By Steven Constantine,
Connell School of Nursing
An agreement brings together the nursing schools of two prominent international Catholic, Jesuit universities
The Connell School of Nursing and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan College of Nursing in the Philippines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that formally brings together the nursing schools of two prominent international Catholic, Jesuit universities.
The agreement is designed to support and facilitate collaboration between the nursing schools for academic and research engagement.
The MOU was signed at the close of the last academic year by Barry Family/Goldman Sachs Endowed Professor in Nursing and Associate Dean for Research Christopher Lee and Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan President Mars P. Tan, S.J.
Founded in 1933 and located in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, Xavier Ateneo enrolls more than 13,000 students, forming leaders of character for the needs of Mindanao, the Philippines, and Asia-Pacific.
The XU College of Nursing continues to be among the best performing schools in the country, consistently topping the national board exams. It was recognized by the Commission on Higher Education in 1992 and graduated its first batch in 1993. The first board takers immediately pinned a 100% passing rate in the Integrated Nurses Licensure Examination.
The William F. Connell School of Nursing is the professional nursing school at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Connell School of Nursing awards undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, while offering a continuing education program for practitioners in the field.
Founded in 1947, the Connell School of Nursing is a community of students, clinicians, educators, scientists, innovators, and leaders who are all passionate about the same thing: improving human health and building healthy communities. It has the top-ranked master’s nursing program in Massachusetts, over 85 clinical partners in the Greater Boston Area, and 34% of its students study aboard. All of its graduate students (100%) passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2020, while 96% of its undergraduate students passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt in 2020.
“We hope to learn from Boston College and share our best features and practices as well,” said Fr. Tan. “I am confident the collaboration will be fruitful for both institutions.”
CSON faculty involved in the discussions say their Xavier Ateneo counterparts are interested in online teaching, expanding the use of nursing simulation, and developing a foundation for research, among other topics. Student and faculty exchanges have also been discussed.
Connell School Associate Professor Corrine Jurgens will work on developing a research capacity series for Xavier Ateneo faculty that will include forming programs of research, ethical review of projects, and collaboration/guidance on publishing and dissemination.Once research interests are determined, she said, “we will be working on writing a state-of-the-science paper(s) for publication. These papers will assist in identification of gaps in knowledge and direction for future research.
“I foresee [Connell School] research faculty outlining the evolution of their programs of research followed by development of research teams to build a collaborative international research relationship.” (with additional research by Mike Baños)
