Fairfield University

Fairfield University School of Nursing faced challenges in meeting recruitment and enrollment goals for students from backgrounds under- represented in nursing. However, the school of nursing did retain all of its students, and all NCIN graduates passed the nurse licensure examination. The nursing school modified its leadership and mentoring programs using the NCIN Leadership Development Plan and Pre-Entry Immersion Program (PIP). Students are now exposed to leaders in nursing in the first nursing course and paired with a mentor in their first summer/clinical course. Publicity highlighted second-degree accelerated students from diverse backgrounds, as recommended in the university’s strategic plan, which emphasizes expanding diversity based on income, race, and ethnicity among students and faculty.