HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE

The College began, in 1914, as the West Suburban Hospital School of Nursing offering a diploma nursing program. A diploma program was offered from 1948 to 1982 with Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL.

In 1982, a formal agreement was established with Concordia University, River Forest, to offer the general education portion of the curriculum for a baccalaureate program. The lasting College relationships developed by graduates of the diploma school are evidenced today by the overwhelming support of the Alumni Association. The affiliation with the Auxiliary of West Suburban Medical Center and Resurrection Health Care has also fostered positive community support by the Auxiliary of West Suburban Medical Center and Resurrection Health Care Foundation.

HISTORY OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The diploma program of nursing began in 1914. Established in 1982, the Baccalaureate Nursing Program included both a generic and Registered Nurse completion option. Originally developed as an upper level nursing program in affiliation with Concordia University, the baccalaureate program also offered several nursing courses at the sophomore level. In the Fall of 2003, faculty revised the curriculum to be community based.

The baccalaureate program was approved on November 17, 1981, by the State of Illinois Department of Registration and Education, currently known as the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

The College has been approved by the IDFPR since the establishment of the program. The College was recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education on January 23, 1981, under “An Act Regulating Private Colleges” and “An Act Regulating the Granting of Academic Degrees” and given degree granting and operating authority to offer a nursing degree. This recognition, based on the laws governing degree granting and operating authority for independent colleges and universities, continues to date.

In 1984, the College was granted candidacy for accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). And, in 1986, the College was initially accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, now known as the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association.

In 1988, the College was accredited by the National League for Nursing, now known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. The College was re-accredited in 1996. The College received preliminary accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in February 1988. Accreditation has been granted for 10 years, 2003-2013.

In 1989, the College was granted the status of “Accreditation Continued.” In 1991, the College was approved to allow “a limited number of courses at the Master’s level not applicable to degrees offered.” In 1995, the College was once again granted the status of “Accreditation Continued.” In June 2003, the Higher Learning Commission accepted the College’s application to participate in the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP). Accreditation status was extended, with the next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for 2009-2010.

The addition of the graduate nursing programs was approved by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association on December 18, 2005 and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education on October 12, 2005.

In May 2008 the Higher Learning Commission approved the baccalaureate degrees of health informatics and healthcare administration.

Degree plans have been established to support transfer students from all surrounding colleges and universities based on the Illinois Articulation Initiative (www.transfer.org). Transfer guides are available on the website, www.wscn.edu.