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Retired executive and philanthropist R. Kirk Landon's record $5 million gift-to be doubled by a state grant-assures the College of Business Administration 's ever-increasing influence and creates the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business. |
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With flowers and shrubs, hard work and plenty of care, Psychology Chairperson Marvin Dunn and his students are reviving Miami's Overtown neighborhood. |
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A retooled defense, greater overall speed and increased intensity are just a few of the changes you'll notice as the football team enters it's third season. |
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| FLORIDA’S
LEADING HEALTH INSURER Safeguards Nursing Students’ Futures
"In response to the acute and continuing nursing shortage, the School of Nursing has increased capacity in all programs by 40 percent and in the generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing program alone by 237 percent in the last three years," said Divina Grossman, dean of the School of Nursing. Overall, those figures translate into about 262 new undergraduate and graduate spots, bringing total available slots to approximately 735. The numbers represent FIU's positive efforts against the looming nursing crisis. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis forecasts a deficit of 275,000 nurses nationally by 2010, when the first 78 million baby boomers turn 65. In the state of Florida, with its older-than-average population, the Florida Hospital Association estimates that 34,000 new nurses will be needed by the year 2006. Help from companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida will ensure that those who seek a career in nursing do not give up because of financial difficulties. "A key focus in our philanthropic investments over the past year has been to nursing programs," said Shelly Spivack, manager of government and public relations for the insurance provider, the largest in the state. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is committed to promoting improved health and wellness for all Floridians." Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida's $100,000 gift qualified for a State of Florida matching grant that increased its value to $150,000. All monies will be held in perpetuity in an endowment account, the interest from which will support four annual scholarships. A great investment in FIU, the impact of the gift will resonate for generations to come. The gift to FIU is significant also in that FIU educates a higher-than-average number of minority students, a population that has typically been under-represented among registered nurses. Generous Donor Made Previous Gift This is not the first time that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has come to the aid of students in the College of Health and Urban Affairs (CHUA). Thanks to a $450,000 gift last fall from the insurer, CHUA students will have one of the nation's premier lecture facilities. The contribution qualified for an equal amount of state funds, bringing its total value to $900,000. The monies are earmarked for the construction of a state-of the-art auditorium to be outfitted with the latest wireless communication echnologies. The auditorium, to be named the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Auditorium, is part of the second phase of the new $38 million Health and Life Sciences Complex at University Park, scheduled for completion shortly. The complex will house the School of Nursing, the School of Health Sciences and the Dr. Robert R. Stempel School of Public Health, among other programs. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield's investment in health education is a direct investment in our community," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. Added Ken Sellers, group vice president for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, "We feel this donation will further the health and well being of Floridians by giving future health practitioners the facilities and resources needed to enhance their education.” |
