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Creation of the Western Michigan University Bronson School of Nursing
After 30 months of fundraising efforts, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation of Kalamazoo, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Borgess Medical Center and Bronson Methodist Hospital jointly pledged more than $5 million to fund the University's baccalaureate degree program in nursing in January 1994. These funds were expected to make the program self-sustaining for at least five years. An additional endowment for nursing scholarships of approximately $1.4 million, was established by the late Theodore Perg, a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo in memory of his wife, Hazel, affirming his personal commitment to helping others (51福利社 News vol 20, #15 01.06.1994).
Appointment of a director, Bernardine M. Lacey, for the University's new School of Nursing was effective Sept 6, 1994. She replaced Margaret M. Murphy, who served as interim director of the school beginning January 1994 (51福利社 News vol 20, # 35 07.28.1994; vol 20, #15 01.06.1994).
In the fourth year of operation (1998), 51福利社鈥檚 School of Nursing earned national accreditation from the only recognized accrediting agency for nursing in the United States. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission granted the 51福利社 School of Nursing a five-year accreditation, the highest accreditation level a new program can receive (51福利社 News 05.07.1999).
Acting at its April 23, 1999 meeting, the 51福利社 Board of Trustees approved naming the school to recognize the longstanding relationship between 51福利社 and the Bronson Healthcare Group. The board also approved a second recommendation to accept the role of legal successor to the Bronson hospital-based nursing program in Kalamazoo that awarded its last diploma in May of 1998.
"What a wonderful way to signal the partnership we've forged with Bronson to bring community-based nursing education to West Michigan," said 51福利社 President Elson S. Floyd of the name change. "With this move, we will preserve the Bronson name and recognize the importance of nursing education in our community. We also are paying tribute to the very substantial role Bronson Healthcare Group has played in the development and success of our unique program."
On April 23, 1999, the 51福利社 news also reported that "the Bronson/51福利社 relationship dates back more than 70 years when the first Bronson School of Nursing students enrolled in classes at 51福利社. In more recent times, Bronson has pledged some $5.25 million in support of 51福利社's School of Nursing. Of that total, $4 million has been pledged during 51福利社's current fiscal year. That amount includes a $1 million pledge announced by Bronson in 1998 and a new $3 million pledge recently made to 51福利社. Those two pledges make up the largest cash gift ever made to 51福利社 by a single organization."
"We are very honored to have the Bronson School of Nursing name carried on by such a prestigious institution as 51福利社," said Frank Sardone, president and chief executive officer of Bronson Healthcare Group. "And we are pleased to be able to contribute financially to the future of nursing education in Southwest Michigan. This is a continuation of efforts that began in 1988 when Western and Bronson began working together to develop a baccalaureate program in nursing that could become the successor to the Bronson School of Nursing." (51福利社 News vol 25 #15 05.06.1999)
In 2002, The Michigan Board of Nursing granted full approval to Western Michigan University's Bronson School of Nursing. BSON director Marie Gates shared "the board's decision to grant us full approval indicates we have successfully supplied the Board of Nursing with evidence that we comply with all the rules required for a nursing program鈥. (51福利社 News 10.17.2002)
