The School of Nursing at the University of Connecticut is the largest nursing program in the state, and has an impressive legacy.
The Widmer Building first opened in 1919 as an infirmary, the first at the University. Known as "The Cottage," the building eventually became the first home to the School of Nursing in 1942, when it accepted thirteen students into its inaugural class. Carolyn Ladd Widmer helmed the program and served as Dean from 1942 until 1967. Her tremendous expertise led UConn to be rated in the top 25% of the nation’s schools of nursing in 1949.
As the program became more successful, enrollment grew and UConn established a master’s degree program (1971), a Ph.D. degree program (1994), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program (2008). By this time, the program had moved into Augustus Storrs Hall (pictured above).
In 2012, TSKP designed a new addition of Storrs Hall specifically to give the nursing program to grow. The Widmer Wing of Storrs Hall now offers a group simulation lab featuring exam rooms, clinical simulation labs, a multi-purpose room, and a case-study lecture room with 175 seats for group study with broadcast capabilities to enable study of classwork in progress in the simulation lab. The School of Nursing program celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2017, and is something that Carolyn Ladd Widmer would certainly be proud of.
As of 2019, according to the University of Connecticut, "the School of Nursing had over 600 pre-licensure students in more than 700 contracted clinical sites, over 130 master’s degree students in 5 specialty areas, and almost 100 doctoral students in the Ph.D. and DNP programs, educated in Storrs Hall and its state-of-the-art Widmer Wing." As the need and importance of nurses continues to grow, The UConn School of Nursing stays dedicated to providing students with hands-on education and modern technology, within a building that is rich in history.
Explore the Widmer Wing Addition project.
Reference: About the School of Nursing - University of Connecticut
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