The dean of the School of Nursing was unable to attend Tuesday's Faculty Senate meeting-as she was feeling under the weather-but Mecca Cranley insisted her proxy, Associate Dean Karen Radke, let everyone in attendance know that the school, at least, is in excellent health.

"Mecca wanted me to say that the School of Nursing is alive and it is well,” said Radke, professor of physiology, as well as nursing.

Enrollment, she said, is up to 425 in the school, which offers bachelor's and master's degrees, and a doctor of nursing science degree-a professional doctorate. In addition to its standard programs, the school has launched a number of new programs in the past year, Radke said.

The first group of students is enrolled in the school's new post-bachelor's certificate program in case management. Radke said the demand for individuals educated in this area is great in the corporate health-care world. Independent Health has approached UB about a contract to prepare the health maintenance organization's registered nurses in case management, said Radke, noting that talks are just beginning.

The nursing school also has added a post-master's advanced certificate psychiatric mental health program, as well as an international nursing-education program in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

"We are very proud of this program," said Radke, noting that 16 registered nurses in Tortola are working toward their baccalaureate. The program is a partnership with the Ministry of Health, as well as the community college there, she explained, noting that the students will be coming to Buffalo this summer to complete their final clinical experiences. The program, which, she said, the school hopes to expand, focuses on upgrading nursing and patient care on the islands.

The nursing school also has begun talks to develop a joint doctoral program in nursing at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

Other developments in the school include:

• A federal educational training grant for master of science degree programs in acute care nurse practitioner work and geriatric nurse practitioner preparation
• Participation in Kids in Health, a community-service initiative of the federal training grant, through which the school serves Native-American school children
• A community-service project that teaches health promotion to students, principals, faculty and staff at Windermere Elementary School in Amherst and School 82 and the King Urban Life Center Charter School in Buffalo
• A partnership with the Visiting Nurse Association and M&T Bank to provide flu-vaccination clinics throughout the Buffalo area

Radke also praised the school's graduate nurse anesthesia program, which is ranked sixth in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

While enrollment is up at the school, Radke pointed out, Buffalo is suffering an "acute shortage" of nurses. But despite the shortage-which usually keeps nurses in the workforce and out of school-UB's master's-program enrollment has increased, and its undergraduate enrollment is solid, Radke said. UB, she said, is doing its part to assist with the workforce shortage. Kaleida Health System alone has 250 nursing positions vacant, she said, and UB is in the process of helping to shrink that shortage by collaborating with Kaleida on a summer clinical experience for graduating seniors that benefits both parties involved.

Graduating seniors who practice with Kaleida could become long-term employees with the organization, and those students who commit to enroll in UB's graduate program will receive a tuition scholarship and stipend. Kaleida and UB also are working out a junior summer clinical experience that will see 20 UB students working at Kaleida this summer, Radke added.

In other business at the Faculty Senate meeting, Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi updated members on the search that is under way for a new dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, a position vacated by Kerry S. Grant after he was named vice provost of academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School.

"It's obviously a very important search; it's a very large college, so I think all of you should do your best to try and help us find somebody good," she said. Charles L. Stinger, senior associate dean in CAS and professor of history, is serving as interim dean. The goal-while noting it's possible it will not be met-is to have this and other open dean posts filled by the fall, she said.

UB also is seeking to fill dean posts in the schools of Health Related Professions, Dental Medicine, Architecture and Planning, Education and Information Studies.

Capaldi said that in his new position, Grant will oversee assessment of programs, as well as a re-established Office of Teaching Effectiveness, something the Faculty Senate's Teaching and Learning Committee had pushed for in recent months.

"We're extremely happy that this is going to move ahead," said J. Ronald Gentile, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology and chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Also at the meeting, senators adopted a resolution to establish an Academic Second Chance Policy, first put forward on Feb. 6 by the Faculty Senate Grading Committee, chaired by William H. Baumer, professor of philosophy. The resolution has been forwarded for action by President William R. Greiner.