College of Nursing

Dean's Message

Spring Break 2026 has arrived, marking the midpoint of the semester. It is hard to believe that we are already reviewing admissions for the Nurse Practitioner programs for Fall 2026, as well as the Traditional and Accelerated BSN programs.

Equally exciting is the progress being made on the Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building. With an anticipated move-in date of June 2027, the vision of a new space to grow and innovate is becoming more of a reality every day. This expansion will allow us to increase our undergraduate cohort size from 40 to 64 students in the traditional program and up to 32 students in the accelerated programs. At full capacity, this growth will bring more than 400 undergraduate nursing students into the building at any given time.

Our DNP programs continue to prepare advanced practice registered nurses and nursing administrators who are practice-ready to meet the evolving needs of healthcare. The MBA option within the Nursing Administration Systems DNP program is helping address a critical need in nursing leadership. Meanwhile, the Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs continue their outstanding record of 100% first-time pass rates for certification. The Nurse Anesthesia program also maintains exceptional outcomes with a 96% first-time pass rate, an impressive achievement for such a rigorous program.

Please remember our annual “friend-raiser,” The NightinGala 2026, chaired once again by Stephanie Blaine and Suzanne Ridge. This wonderful event will be held on campus at the Wolford Center on April 25. Tickets are now on sale—please see the registration link to reserve your spot.

As we move toward the end of our first semester as a College of Nursing, we are still finding our way—making updates to our website, revising bylaws and handbooks, and continuing the many tasks that come with building something new. Through it all, one thing remains constant: the dedication our faculty and staff bring to our students and to one another.

Happy Spring. Summer cannot be far behind.

Christine Benz Smith, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC
UC Foundation Professor
Dean, College of Nursing
Chief Health Affairs Officer
 

Check out our March Newsletter Messages from Metro!

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.