About the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UCCS
Letter from the Dean
Welcome to the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Our college has been preparing students for successful careers in various health care and human performance fields for more than 50 years (more than 100 years for our nursing program!). Our success and longevity are largely due to our faculty’s continued focus on exemplary teaching, scholarship, and professional service, as well as our innovative laboratory and clinical experiences.
We offer a variety of nationally recognized and accredited bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees including, but not limited to nursing, exercise science, health care science, nutrition, athletic training, and physical therapy. Our degrees are in high demand and offer rewarding careers in a wide variety of fields. Because of the popularity of our programs and these professions, Johnson Beth-El has a large student enrollment; however, we also employ a large staff of nationally and internationally recognized scholars, which allows our class sizes to remain small, thereby providing our students with more individualized interactions with faculty.
Our college is home to the Simulation Learning Center and the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences (Health Circle Clinics), which includes the Primary Care Clinic, Center for Active Living, Peak Nutrition Clinic, and the Nurse-Family Partnership. We also have the state-of-the-art William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center through our partnership with Centura Health®. This facility and partnership include classroom spaces, laboratories, and clinical experiences equipped with the latest technology, which provides our students unique experiences both inside and outside of the classroom and valuable hands-on practical experience within their chosen field.
I encourage you to browse our web pages and social media sites that detail our different majors, and all that our college has to offer. If you are interested in an exciting and rewarding career in the health care, physical activity, and nutrition fields then UCCS and the Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences is an ideal place to begin your career!
Sincerely,
Kevin Laudner
Dean and Professor
Johnson Beth-El Strategic Plan
Mission Statement
Nurture human-centered, resilient, curious professionals prepared to promote and deliver high quality health care, optimize performance, and solve complex health problems.
Vision Statement
Achieve national recognition for enhancing health, wellness, and performance for all through integrated education, research, scholarship, clinical care, and community outreach.
Goal 1
Advance interprofessional education, research, scholarship, and practice to prepare collaborative leaders to promote, treat, and manage health, wellness, and performance.
Strategies:
1. Identify and foster mutually beneficial public-private partnerships to support student learning, research, scholarship, professional development, and community health and well-being.
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Department of Human Physiology & Nutrition partnered with the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy to develop a BS in HPNU Pharmacy Preparation Option. 2025
- Worked with university advisors to provide Nursing Prep and Nursing Intent Students a workshop for applying to the BS Nursing program and other academic programs within the college. 2025 – present
- Hosted Nursing faculty, staff, and students from University of Human Environments, Obu, Japan. 2025
- Created the first CU combined degree across CU campuses for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Hybrid Program offered by UCCS and CU Anschutz. 2024
- Developed International Faculty Research Exchange Program with Loughborough University in Loughborough England. 2024
- Partnered with Rosalind Franklin University to offer Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia program on UCCS campus. 2023 – present
- Developed International Faculty Research Exchange Program with Edinburgh Napier University in Edinburgh Scotland. 2023
- Partnered with the Colorado Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and delivered the Health Occupations Promotion Equity (HOPE) Summer Camp for the third time at UCCS for high school students interested in careers within the health care and human performance fields. 2022 – present
- The Jumpstart the Aging Workforce Solutions (JAWS) program increased recruitment and retention of the local long-term care workforce by connecting health care providers with local educators and community service organizations brining awareness to career opportunities. 2022 – present
- Develop articulation agreements with southern Colorado community colleges to increase enrollment of transfer students. Ongoing
- Partner with local businesses and organizations for the annual Trek the Trail 5K run/walk to raise funds for student scholarships. Ongoing
- Partner with university constituents to provide Welcome Back Pizza Party for JBE students in an effort to provide students with detailed information about college/university programs and services. Ongoing
- Developed a Program Plan for a new College building scheduled to house our Department of Nursing, Simulation Learning Center, and more in collaboration with the Colorado Springs City Clinic. 2023 – 2024
- Developed a Functional Plan for a new College building scheduled to house our Department of Nursing, Simulation Learning Center, and more in collaboration with the City of Colorado Springs and the CU Anschutz branch medical campus. 2022-2023
- Received CAPTE accreditation approval of the joint CU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Hybrid Program offered by UCCS and CU Anschutz. 2023
2. Promote collaborative opportunities to cultivate an inclusive and team-based environment of mutual respect.
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Initiated distribution of service coins to recognize years of service of College faculty and staff. 2025
- Initiated the College Student-Faculty Research Collaboration Award. 2023
- Developed College Alumni-Student Mentor Program, which matches Johnson Beth-El undergraduate and graduate students with select alumni. 2022 – present
- Initiated College Writing Group to provide faculty with an internal support system to help foster scholarly productivity and collaboration. 2022 – present
- Offer annual in-person College events for faculty and staff aimed at increasing professional development opportunities and fostering collaboration. 2019 – present
3. Develop a culture of innovative and sustainable interprofessional education (IPE).
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Developing an IPE Website and Resource Page. In progress
- Partnered with Bennet Hill Monastery to provide interprofessional education for students. 2023 – present
- Held annual Interprofessiona l Education – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. 2022 – present
- Working with external universities (foreign and domestic) to create interprofessional education opportunities for students. Ongoing
- Integrated IPE into introductory courses across all three departments (HPNU 2080, HSCI 2010, and NUR 1230). 2022 – present
Development and implemented IPE into End of Life Simulation. 2022 – present
Foster a culture of wellbeing among students, employees, and the community by supporting the sustainable and holistic development of health and wellness, resilience, and accessibility.
Strategies:
1. Support student and employee mentorship opportunities to enhance career interests and pathways, professional development, and workforce skills.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Launched College Student (peer) Tutor Program to assist undergraduate students in historically difficult classes. 2023 – present
• Provided College Family & Friends Webinar for prospective students, which consisted of a 1-hour question and answer forum for students and their families and friends. 2023 – present
• Developed College Alumni-Student Mentor Program, which matches Johnson Beth-El undergraduate and graduate students with select alumni. 2022 – present
• Offered teaching workshop for new Johnson Beth-El Graduate Teaching Assistants to help these individuals assimilate into their teaching roles. 2022 – present
• Launched College Student (peer) Tutor Program to assist undergraduate students in historically difficult classes.
2. Support student and employee mentorship opportunities to enhance career interests and pathways, professional development, and workforce skills.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Opened snack stations in University Hall and the Hybl Center to support students with food insecurity. 2023 – present
• Administered survey to all Johnson Beth-El students who graduated in the past year. 2022 – present
o Results were then shared with respective academic programs to provide critical information regarding the quality of our programs and to continue to offer innovative educational experiences for our students and to help us better understand our graduates career trajectories and how we can improve our instruction for future students.
• Created College Ambassadors Program, which employees Johnson Beth-El undergraduate and graduate students to represent our College during different events and activities (e.g., alumni events, meeting with potential students, providing facility tours). 2022 – present
• Meet with community stakeholders to secure additional sites for clinical and practical experiences. Ongoing
3. Increase accessibility to education and life-long learning through innovative academic opportunities for all.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Initiated CU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Hybrid Program, which allows students to take most courses remotely followed by short intensive hands-on experiences on campus. 2024 – present
• Created a College Presentation Incentive Program that provides additional funds to faculty/staff who are presenting their work at conferences, symposiums, etc. to help offset the cost of professional development. 2022 – present
• Health Sciences developed a fully online version of the BS in Health Sciences degree with an emphasis in Health and Wellness Promotion.
• Exploring offering additional certificates and stackable credentials.
Establish an innovative, nationally recognized academic health and wellness community to serve all stakeholders.
Strategies:
1. Explore and develop internal and external partnerships to support the health and wellness community.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Continued and expanded collaborative projects within the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences to provide various health care programs and services to our community. Ongoing
i. Diabetes Prevention Program
ii. Lifestyle Refresh Program
iii. Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) Moves – group fitness
iv. Move MS Fitness Class
v. Collaboration with the City of Colorado Springs to provide city employees and their families:
1. Medical Clinic
2. Wellness programming
vi. Nurse Family Partnership Wellness program
2. Build cutting-edge college facilities to serve all stakeholders via education, research, scholarship, and clinical practice.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Developed a Program Plan for a new College building scheduled to house our Department of Nursing, Simulation Learning Center, and more in collaboration with the Colorado Springs City Clinic. 2023 – 2024
• Developed a Functional Plan for new College building. 2022 – 2023
• Continue discussions with potential community partners for development of third college building.
• Explore possible state funding for development of third college building.
• Created internal Functional Plan in collaboration with the City of Colorado Springs and the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. This was based on feedback from multiple focus groups that included faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners
3. Develop innovative programs and teams guided by stakeholder input that prepare health, wellness, and performance professionals to improve health and performance outcomes.
Accomplishments & Progress:
• Created a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner option for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. 2024
• Offered first cohort of CU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Hybrid Program, which allows students to take most courses remotely followed by short intensive hands-on experiences on campus. 2024
• Developed new online BS in Health Sciences with option in Health and Wellness Promotion. 2024
• Created a MSc degree in Applied Physiology with a track in Elite Sport Performance. 2023
• Offered new minor in Sport Coaching housed within the Department of Health Sciences. 2023
• Offered first cohort of students in the new MSc Nutrition and Dietetics program. 2022
• Health Sciences is developing a partnership with UCHealth Memorial Hospital to provide a Radiology Technology sequence under the BS in Health Sciences degree.
• Developed CU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Hybrid Program, which will allow students to take most courses remotely followed by short intensive hands-on experiences on campus.
• Created a MSc degree in Applied Physiology with a track in Elite Sport Performance.
• Created a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner option for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
• Enrolled first cohort of students in the new MSc Nutrition and Dietetics program.
• Approved a new minor in Sport Coaching housed within the Department of Health Sciences.
Champion a culture of belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Strategies:
1. Implement and sustain best practices for recruiting, retaining, and supporting college students and employees.
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Initiated distribution of service coins to recognize years of service of College faculty and staff. 2025
- Implemented college best practices document for all faculty/staff searches related to diversity, equity, and inclusive belonging. 2023 – present
- Opened snack stations in University Hall and the Hybl Center to support students with food insecurity. 2023 – present
- Initiated College Student Ambassador Program to empower students to contribute, learn, and earn money, during the growth and success of the college. 2023
- The Department of Human Physiology and Nutrition revised their differential workload policy to better reflect the percent effort in Research/Scholarship. 2022
- Offered a Health Occupations Promotion Equity (HOPE) Summer Camp at UCCS for high school students from underrepresented groups who are interested in careers within the health care and human performance fields. 2022 – present
- Continued to provide faculty/staff exit survey, which is administered to any faculty/staff who choose employment elsewhere in an effort to better understand how we can improve employee retention. Results of these surveys are reviewed at the end of each fiscal year and discussed with unit leaders to determine areas of improvement. 2022 – present
- Held annual Interprofessional Education – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. 2022 – present
2. Support teaching, research, scholarship, practice, and service within an environment that promotes belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Revised our College DEI Council’s charge to reflect biennial goals of the UCCS Council on Inclusive Belonging.
3. Implement training and professional development opportunities to educate students and employees about belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Accomplishments & Progress:
- Received state funding for rural workforce development in healthcare. 2023 – present
- Held annual Interprofessional Education – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. 2022 – present
Johnson Beth-El Strategic Plan Dashboard
