College of Nursing Strategic Plan

College of Nursing Strategic Plan – 2020-2025

CON Mission

Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing transforms diverse students to become lifelong learners impacting our metropolitan region through an inclusive college committed to affordable and innovative education, evidence-based practice, applied research, and community engagement.

CON Vision

As part of a premier metropolitan university, Purdue University Northwest College of Nursing will power intellectual, cultural, and economic healthcare development in northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago metropolitan area, enriching the surrounding community through collaborative partnerships that leverage the college’s nursing and health care expertise to improve health care delivery and the health of populations.

The CON will prepare diverse nursing students to be effective, ethical, and innovative leaders in nursing, health care, and communities through enhanced academic programming, comprehensive practicum experiences, and integrative, experiential learning.

The CON will support a diverse, talented faculty as they tailor their research, teaching, and service to address the needs of a changing economy and healthcare workforce.

The CON’s vibrant student experience, robust campus resources, and engaged alumni community will enhance students’ abilities to form lasting connections with each other, the college, and the university.

CON Core Values

  • Diversity – Diversity is the infinite range of human differences. As such, we in the CON view diversity holistically, understanding that the definition is constantly evolving and that our plurality is our strength.
  • Inclusion – Inclusion is involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized and celebrated. As an inclusive institution, the CON promotes and sustains a sense of belonging; it values and practices respect for the talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of living of its members.
  • Equity – A central tenet of equity is the guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. In the CON, the principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically under-served and under-represented populations within the profession. Fairness is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities for all groups on campus and in the broader community.
  • Innovation – Innovation is a new idea or method and the act or process of introducing that new idea. In the CON, we view innovation holistically, understanding that it impacts learning, discovery, engagement, and delivery of care. Innovation may be derived from faculty, staff, administration, and/or students.
  • Excellence – Excellence is the quality of being outstanding and is expressed by clear program standards, evidence-based, student-centered curricula, adequate resources, and well-prepared faculty, staff, and administration. The CON strives to provide excellent, inclusive educational opportunities grounded in the philosophy of continuous quality improvement.
  • Community – Community is a group of people having particular characteristics in common. The CON community is defined broadly and is constantly evolving. The CON community shares a common attitude of excellence and consistent goals; we achieve these goals with mutual respect, input, and support.

Theme 1: Enriched Student Experience

Goal 1: Increase relevance and responsiveness of curriculum to student interests and employer needs.

Goal 2: Expand opportunities for experiential learning within all majors, increasing the quality and scale of internships, service learning, and student research activities.

Goal 3: Reimagine PNW’s General Education curriculum to better assist students in developing broad, interdisciplinary outlooks, critical and creative thinking skills, and effective communication.

Goal 4. Improve cohesion and quality of the student experience and support services from enrollment through graduation.

Theme 2: Strategic Enrollment Growth and Student Success

Goal 1: Increase enrollment and student retention through increased levels of student scholarships, assistantships, and research funding

Goal 2: Improve the level of student success by increasing retention and graduation rates.

Goal 3: Optimize enrollment

Theme 3: Promote National and Regional Growth through Discovery and Innovation.

Goal 1: Increase metropolitan impact and community engagement through research and strategic partnerships

Goal 2: Expand PNW’s scope as a driver for intellectual, cultural, social, and economic impact in Northwest Indiana

Goal 3: Increase the quality and scope of collaborative, interdisciplinary research focused on real-world challenges in the surrounding community, incorporating this research into the student experience

Theme 4: Identity

Goal 1: PNW will be recognized as the premier metropolitan university in the region, whose value is acknowledged by students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Goal 2: Create a university-wide culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

*Updated: September 2022