Profile

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Associate Dean & Associate Professor
Texas Woman's University
anibert@twu.edu | (713) 794-2101

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Holistic Admissions for an Undergraduate Nursing Program in a 3-Campus Public University: Beginnings

Ainslie Nibert, PhD, RN, FAAN, Texas Woman's University

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Co-Author(s): Peggy Landrum, PhD, RN, CS, Texas Woman's University - Houston

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Abstract
One year ago, our college of nursing faculty, who teach on a main residential campus and two satellite campuses, conducted world café sessions that illuminated gaps in admissions practices in the undergraduate program. A need for a more holistic admissions process to support a diverse student population and welcome applicants from underrepresented populations was identified. The undergraduate curriculum committee took the initial steps and identified best practices leading to multidimensional diversity among baccalaureate program candidates. By engaging in a process of discernment focused on establishing how this initiative fit within the University’s mission and vision statement and strategic plan, the faculty constructed an E-A-M model that re-balanced selection processes, including criteria expected to be most significant in enhancing diversity of our current applicant pool. Criteria of interest focused on matching our student cultural and ethnic characteristics to that of our state’s general population. Through brainstorming sessions and discussions with nursing program administrators who had successfully implemented Holistic Admissions, we created an E-A-M model that was presented to the faculty-at-large through a workshop presentation led by Dr. Vernell DeWitty. Understanding essential holistic review processes and grappling with the issue of intrinsic bias were concepts explored during the workshop, with curriculum committee members serving as breakout session facilitators. Now that the entire 105 members of the faculty have greater awareness of the changes needed to our current admissions processes to achieve our goal of a more diverse student body, we are ready to move forward with faculty training on updated review practices.

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Biography
Ainslie Nibert is a nationally-recognized expert in nursing curriculum, testing and measurement. She currently serves as Associate Dean/Associate Professor, Texas Woman’s University College of Nursing – Houston, and as a corporate consultant to nursing academic and clinical practice organizations. She previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Review and Testing/HESI, at Elsevier, Inc. Dr. Nibert is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, where she is a Virginia Henderson Fellow and was a Faculty Advisor for the Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy.

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