University of Pennsylvania. School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania started its nursing program in 1935 when, at the request of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, the Board of Trustees of the University authorized the establishment of a Department of Nursing Education in the School of Education. Katherine Tucker was appointed Director of the department. Programs leading to the degree of B.S. in Education, with majors in nursing education and public health nursing, were offered to graduates of hospital nursing schools. In 1937, a program leading to the degree of M.S. in Education with a major in nursing education was established. In 1944, the Trustees of the University further authorized the establishment, in the Division of Medical Affairs, of a Basic Collegiate School of Nursing with a five-year basic program leading to the degree of B.S. in Nursing. Theresa I. Lynch was appointed Director. In 1950, the Department of Nursing Education merged with the Basic School to form the School of Nursing of the University of Pennsylvania as an independent professional school in the Division of Medical Affairs. Theresa Lynch was appointed its first dean.

In 1957, the School was surveyed by the National League for Nursing and obtained accreditation for all its programs. The Trustees authorized the establishment of the Graduate Division with programs leading to the degree of M.S. in Nursing in 1961. In 1965, Dorothy A. Mereness became the second dean of the School of Nursing. Major changes in the Master's curriculum were initiated in 1966. Admission and promotion standards were raised and the curriculum was lengthened. All the clinical programs were reorganized. In early 1974, the Board of Trustees of the University voted to close the nurse training school that had existed with the hospital attached to the University since 1886. The School celebrated its Silver Anniversary in 1975. In 1977, Claire M. Fagin became the third dean of the School and held the position until 1991.

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