Centers of Excellence

The SoN has or is affiliated with twelve Centers of Excellence that may be useful resources and provide unique learning experiences for students. These Centers are: 

• Center for Adolescent Nursing

• Center for Aging Science and Care Innovation

• Center for Child and Family Health Promotion Research 

• Center for Flourishing Health Care Communities

• Center for Indigenous People, Health and Nursing of North America

• Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs 

• Center for Nursing Informatics 

• Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice

• Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership 

• Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing

• Institute for Health Informatics (IHI)

• Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)

Students are encouraged to review the Center websites and contact the Center Directors if they are interested in engagement. PhD students are welcome to be involved with the centers including meeting participation, manuscript and grant reviews, etc.

Cooperative Units

Rather than departments or divisions, the SoN is organized in thematic cooperative units or “co-ops”. This enables faculty and students to focus the combined forces of research, education and practice/service on three health care themes, all of them areas of strength for the school. All faculty participate in a cooperative unit, each of which is supported by a chair, program associate and program assistant. The SoN has the following three cooperative units located on the 6th floor: Adult and Gerontological Health (6-145 WDH), Child and Family Health (6-139 WDH) and Population Health and Systems (6-169 WDH). Typically, students connect with the cooperative unit affiliated with their advisor for things like scheduling a room for a preliminary or final exam.

Office of Student and Career Advancement Services (OSCAS)

OSCAS is a resource and information hub for all SoN students. The office is located in 2-139 WDH. Seek assistance from OSCAS for record holds, difficulty registering, assistance in navigating through the UMN, and challenges impacting your academic pursuits. The Graduate Program Coordinators for the PhD program are a part of OSCAS, and will work in partnership with the Director of Graduate Studies (see below). 

Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship (ONRS)

The ONRS oversees research in the SoN. Staff provide services related to grant proposal preparation and submission, poster printing and statistical assistance.  The office is located at 6-101 and 6-184 WDH. For contact information for key ONRS personnel , see http://www.nursing.umn.edu/research/about-office-nursing-research-and-scholarship. All student grant proposals should be processed through ONRS.

Office of Academic Programs (OAP)

The OAP oversees all academic programs in the SoN, OSCAS and the Simulation Laboratory. The Associate Dean of Academic Programs is Dr. Susan Forneris (sforneri@umn.edu;  612-624-0653  5-140 WDH).

Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)

The DGS, in conjunction with the Associate Dean of Academic Programs, represents the SoN to both the University’s Administration and the Graduate School. The DGS serves as the administrative supervisor and coordinator of graduate studies with the SoN and is a unique liaison among the SoN graduate student body, the SoN graduate faculty, and the Graduate School administration. The DGS enforces regulations for the PhD program; signs off on all milestone requirements (e.g., degree plans, passing of written preliminary examinations) related to the Graduate School; keeps students and advisors informed about policies, processes and requirements; assists graduate students in resolving issues (e.g.., between students, faculty, advisor, etc); facilitates changes of advisor to the Graduate School; serves as initial advisor or interim advisor until a permanent advisor is assigned; approves admission, readmission or change of status requests; and oversees annual student reviews. The DGS is Dr. Mary Fran Tracy.

PhD Program Director

The PhD Program Director facilitates recruitment and funding of PhD students; assists faculty with placement of PhD students for research practicum experiences; oversees student progression activities; in consultation with the faculty, PhD Council and Curriculum Committee, evaluates the PhD curriculum; designs and implements periodic seminars for PhD faculty and students as needed, recommends teaching assignments for PhD courses to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs; and participates in grant funding initiatives; participates in decisions about graduate assistantships, scholarships and fellowships. The PhD Program Director is Dr. Mary Fran Tracy. 

Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC)

The GPC provides leadership to the PhD program and serves as a program representative on various governance committees within the SoN and UMN. In addition to the advisor and the DGS, the GPC serves as a resource for questions about the PhD program and University resources. While many graduate programs at the University have a separate staff member for the PLC role and the CC role, the PhD program in the SoN has one staff member for both roles. The GPC also signs off on and tracks milestone requirements related to the Graduate School. The GPC for the PhD program is Ifeyinwa Ikegwuani, (gophernursing@umn.edu; 612-624-0163; 2-139 WDH).