Collin College has been named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing (NLN) for a third time and remains the only community college in Texas with that distinction.

The NLN’s Centers of Excellence program honors colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to quality nursing education.

“NLN Centers of Excellence help raise the bar for all nursing programs by role modeling visionary leadership and environments of inclusive excellence,” said NLN CEO Beverly Malone in a release announcing the honor. “These environments help nurture the next generation of a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community.”

Collin College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree and a Licensed Vocational Nurse-to-Registered Nurse (LVN-to-RN) bridge program. The college introduced a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Spring 2020 and will offer a new Vocational Nursing certificate program in Spring 2021. The college was recognized as a Center of Excellence in 2011, 2015, and 2020. It is one of just four nursing programs in Texas to earn that honor. The designation will continue through 2024.

Dr. Jane Leach, Collin College’s dean of nursing, said she believes the nursing program faculty’s dedication to professional development and personal education played a part in the NLN’s recognition.