TCAC

Index of Commentaries

TCAC Commentaries Concerning Tri-Campus Interconnections, Collaborations & Linkages--Appendix

Nursing Tri-Council

Nursing Programs were established at the University of Washington, Bothell (UWB and the University of Washington, Tacoma (UWT) in summer 1992; academic program directors regularly met with the Dean of the School of Nursing at the Seattle campus of the University of Washington (UWS) for purposes of communication, issue identification and resolution, and creation of effective operational processes. Because the Nursing Programs at UWB and UWT are linked with the UWS School of Nursing by accreditation, responsibility for some processes, with respect to accreditation, is vested in the Dean of the UWS School of Nursing. This creates a complex system, in which curriculum review, for example, is initially at UWB or UWT, and also at the UWS School of Nursing prior to a University-level review.

The need for a more formalized communication and decision making structure for the Nursing Programs was recognized. After extensive discussion and planning, the ad hoc Nursing Tri-Council was established in November 1995. Initial meetings focused on establishing a conceptual and operating framework for Nursing Programs across the three campuses of the University of Washington. Conceptually, the Tri-Council advocates for a three campus University with autonomous, coordinated faculties.

The Tri-Council agreed to the following:

• to engage in mutual consultation and information sharing with respect to program development and operation

• to avoid duplication of program offerings, but to respond to local needs, recognizing that learners, offerings, and teaching strategies would differ

• to link local and university-wide resources when possible

• to establish clear channels of communication and authority

• UWB and UWT having voting membership on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum Coordinating Committee, UWT has voting membership on the Master of Nursing Curriculum Coordinating Committee

• A focus on development of policy for course review and approval, for courses requiring approval on more than one campus

• A focus since 1998 on self-study and accreditation activities, in preparation for a site visit in spring, 2000. The preparation for the visit is the work of a committee chaired by Associate Dean Sue Woods (UWS) with these members: Directors of the UWB and UWT Nursing Programs; Chairs of the curriculum coordinating committees for the Baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctoral Programs (chairs are from UWS).

TCAC Index of Commentaries