Historical Timeline

Year	Description
1975	Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Program inaugurated.
1977	First graduating class of twenty-four undergraduate students completed Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. National League for Nursing gave initial accreditation to Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Program. Lois Kiehn was appointed chair of Nursing Program.
1979	Dr. Marilynn Wood was appointed chair of the Department of Nursing.
1983	Master of Science in Nursing Program inaugurated. The Department of Nursing became the School of Nursing at Azusa Pacific College (APC); APC became Azusa Pacific University (APU). The School of Nursing Department of Continuing Education was established.
1987	Della Blackburn, RN, PhD, was appointed dean of the School of Nursing.
1988	Iota Sigma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (a nursing honors society) was established at APU. High Risk Home Health Program was initiated.
1989	National League for Nursing gave initial accreditation to the Master’s of Science in Nursing Program.
1991	Rose Liegler, RN, PhD was appointed dean of the School of Nursing.
1992	Nursing students and faculty members participated in a medical missions trip to Guatemala.
1993	Eight School of Nursing faculty presented APU nursing curriculum to Russian nurse educators in Golitsino, Russia, at a three-week conference: New Nurses for a New Russia. These faculty wrote Russia’s first Pediatric/Maternal Child and Medical/Surgical textbooks. School of Nursing office and skills lab moved from East to West Campus.
1995	Master’s-level Family Nursing Practitioner Program was established.
1996	School earned accreditation from the National League for Nursing.
1997	Homeless ministry was established in local churches.
1998	School of Nursing Neighborhood Wellness Center was opened in downtown Azusa and funded by the California Endowment.
1999	Nursing Distance Learning, based in San Bernardino for the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, was funded by California Manpower Grant.
1999-2000	School of Nursing celebrates its 25th anniversary as APU celebrates it centennial.
2001	Accelerated BSN Program initiated (APS).
2003	School earned accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
2003-2004	WASC (now WSCUC) accreditation
2004	Second Career and Nursing Program initiated, which was first of its kind in L.A. county. (Now part of the Entry-level Master’s Program)
2005	Aja Lesh, PhD, appointed as dean.
2006	Early Entry Nursing into Advanced Practice (EENAP) Program commences in San Diego. (Now part of the Entry-level Master’s Program)
2007	Early Entry Nursing into Advanced Practice (EENAP) Program commences in San Bernardino.

Note: This information is current for the 2024-25 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.

Historical Timeline

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