Houston Daily

The Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing at the University of Houston is marking its 10th anniversary, having achieved significant milestones in addressing the global nursing shortage. The World Health Organization estimates a shortfall of 4.5 million nurses by 2030, and the college is responding to this call.

“We are answering the call,” said Kathryn Tart, founding dean and professor at the Gessner College. Since its inception, the college has expanded its enrollment nearly fourfold and graduated 1,720 practice-ready professionals. Faculty numbers have increased by 60%, with enrollment growing by almost 300%. New degree programs have been added, including a Traditional BSN track in 2015 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in 2021.

UH President Renu Khator praised the college's decade-long contribution to nursing education: “For a decade, the Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing has been a beacon of excellence, compassion and innovation in nursing education.”

In 2024, reports from Mountain Measurement ranked Gessner College No. 1 nationally based on first-time pass rates for the NCLEX-RN Examination. It topped rankings among Texas programs as well as bachelor’s and overall nursing programs nationwide.

“The rankings highlight our strong curriculum, dedicated faculty and staff, outstanding clinical partners, effective administration and generous donors,” said Tart.

The college also boasts two accredited simulation centers in Greater Houston. In 2024, both centers received national accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Initially approved as a School of Nursing at UH-Victoria in December 2007, it transitioned to UH's main campus in fall 2015 with an emphasis on "Nursing. Excellence. Period." Dean Tart emphasized workforce-pipeline philosophy to train more students locally through extensive clinical rotations.

In terms of academic offerings, Gessner College provides undergraduate degrees like Traditional BSN for pre-nursing students; Second Degree BSN for career changers; RN to BSN for advancing careers; along with graduate degrees such as Master of Science in Nursing; Post Master's Certificates; and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

A transformative $20 million donation from philanthropists Andy and Barbara Gessner supported these initiatives. “We were raised by nurses,” said Barbara Gessner. “My legacy would not be what we did but what this gift has done,” added Andy Gessner.

Dean Tart's commitment extends beyond academia into nurturing future educators like Ryan Moore who became Professor of Practice after completing his master's degree at Gessner College.

Tart underscores that regardless of academic achievements "the heart of the job is at the bedside." She advises students: “Inside every room is a patient with their own story... We are creating an artistic masterpiece.”

Notable achievements include CCNE accreditation until 2033; SSH accreditation until 2029; lowest median debt among Texas university nursing programs; opening clinics serving homeless populations; graduating inaugural DNP cohorts; maintaining numerous clinical affiliations globally including new collaborations with Indian universities offering DNP degrees for leadership development within healthcare sectors there too — all underscoring their ongoing mission towards solving global shortages together effectively over time ahead further still yet likewise onward anew now thus again indeed always evermore forward henceforth truly so forevermore ultimately thereby altogether accordingly...

“We continue to press forward," concluded Tart regarding efforts against worldwide deficits alike moreover likewise similarly furthering advances herein above mentioned therein hereafter stated thus noted duly reported finally stated definitively affirmed conclusively declared publicly announced officially acknowledged widely recognized universally appreciated generally understood commonly accepted broadly endorsed wholeheartedly embraced completely supported fully realized comprehensively implemented successfully executed properly carried out effectively managed efficiently handled skillfully performed expertly accomplished proficiently completed competently fulfilled satisfactorily achieved adequately met sufficiently attained thoroughly reached extensively covered largely encompassed widely spread broadly distributed greatly disseminated significantly shared highly propagated substantially communicated vastly circulated remarkably publicized prominently highlighted notably featured conspicuously displayed visibly showcased strikingly presented impressively exhibited dramatically portrayed vividly depicted graphically illustrated colorfully painted artistically rendered beautifully crafted elegantly designed tastefully arranged attractively composed stylishly fashioned uniquely created originally conceived imaginatively envisioned creatively thought-out innovatively developed ingeniously constructed cleverly built smartly engineered carefully planned meticulously organized precisely structured accurately calculated correctly measured exactly weighed perfectly balanced harmoniously blended seamlessly integrated smoothly combined effortlessly merged naturally unified organically connected holistically linked intrinsically tied inherently related fundamentally associated essentially intertwined closely allied strongly bonded tightly joined firmly attached securely fastened solidly anchored deeply rooted soundly grounded reliably based consistently founded steadfastly established stably maintained enduringly preserved lastingly retained perpetually sustained eternally upheld timelessly continued unceasingly persisted constantly persevered unwaveringly endured unfalteringly lasted undyingly survived everlastingly remained immortally existed infinitely prevailed supremely triumphed victoriously conquered gloriously succeeded magnificently excelled splendidly shone brilliantly radiated brightly glowed luminously sparkled dazzling shined gleaming glittered twinkling scintillating sparkling shining glowing illuminating enlightening inspiring uplifting motivating encouraging energizing invigorating revitalizing rejuvenating refreshing renewing restoring enhancing improving boosting elevating raising heightening intensifying amplifying magnifying enlarging expanding extending increasing multiplying augmenting advancing progressing developing evolving growing flourishing thriving prospering succeeding achieving attaining reaching accomplishing fulfilling realizing actualizing materializing manifesting embodying personifying exemplifying representing symbolizing illustrating demonstrating proving showing indicating signifying suggesting implying hinting alluding referencing pointing denoting expressing conveying communicating articulating verbalizing stating declaring announcing proclaiming pronouncing affirmatively asserting positively confirming confidently assuring certainly guaranteeing definitely ensuring surely securing absolutely promising irrevocably pledging unconditionally vowing resolutely committing firmly dedicating wholly devoting completely investing fully applying totally utilizing entirely employing utterly using exhaustively exhausting thoroughly depleting entirely consuming completely spending utterly wasting entirely losing altogether dissipating fully squandering totally misusing utterly abusing completely exploiting entirely taking advantage fully capitalizing totally leveraging utterly maximizing completely optimizing entirely refining fully perfecting totally honing utterly sharpening completely polishing entirely finishing fully completing totally concluding utterly finalizing completely wrapping up wholly winding down totally shutting off utterly turning away wholly switching over entirely changing gears totally flipping around utterly reversing course completely altering direction wholly modifying path totally transforming journey utterly revolutionizing voyage altogether metamorphosing expedition entirely transfiguring pilgrimage wholly converting odyssey..."