National Institutes of Health ranks UND College of Nursing 11th nationwide The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently ranked the College of Nursing 11th among the country's top 100 nursing programs in terms of research funding. It's the first time for UND on this list, which includes leading schools such as Johns Hopkins University, the University of California, and Yale University. "We are absolutely thrilled with this ranking," says Glenda Lindseth, the College of Nursing's associate dean of research. These rankings are based on the amount of research grant dollars awarded by NIH to each school; UND scored 11th spot with nearly $4 million in NIH research funding over the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The top school, University of California-San Francisco, received about $12 million. These competitive grants are reviewed by experts at NIH, the single largest supporter of medical research in the nation, for their scientific merit and program relevance. UND nursing dean Chandice Covington emphasizes that research is a top priority at the College of Nursing. "It's nice to see the fruits of our labor," says Covington, who, in addition to her administrative responsibilities, is still directly involved in research. "Now we must continue those efforts to maintain our position and to rise even higher." The College of Nursings advancement to top-rated status is a big coup for UND as a whole, says Greg Weisenstein, vice president for academic affairs and provost, and underscores the University's ongoing commitment to research. "We are delighted with the progress that the College of Nursing has made in developing a research agenda that places it among the most prestigious programs in the nation," Weisenstein says. "Our recent NIH ranking is an indication of the tremendous value that our research in the College brings to health services throughout the state and nation." -- Becky Cournia, alumni and development coordinator, College of Nursing, 777-4526, beckycournia@mail.und.edu.