The School of Nursing began in the 1930's as a division of the School of Medicine and became an independent unit within the University in 1940. Nearly 6,000 alumni have graduated from the school's programs, which span the academic spectrum from the baccalaureate through the doctoral degree.

The faculty believes that professional nursing education should seek to develop autonomous, self-directed practitioners and researchers who will advance and test the knowledge on which practice is based. All undergraduate and graduate programs emphasize the acquisition of clinical nursing expertise. Opportunities are provided to develop each student's ability to make decisions, to practice creatively and imaginatively, and to cope with change in a climate of scholarship, discovery, and professional example.

The faculty strives to develop curricula to meet emerging health-care needs in an era of reform. To this end, Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner Programs for Clinical Nurse Specialists have been established.

Teaching methods vary with the topics covered. The student body interacts closely with the faculty in one-on-one mentoring, small group clinical and seminar classes and traditional lectures. In addition to traditional pedagogy, computers and interactive videos are used. Students can communicate with faculty members and clinical agencies using the computer network. A recent development is long-distance, interactive-learning opportunities which provides greater access to nursing education in rural areas of Western New York.

Faculty members are expert practitioners of nursing with advanced preparation in their specialties; 75 percent are doctorally prepared. Many have achieved national and international recognition. Their scholarly work is reflected in research and numerous publications.

Clinical resources for nursing students are located throughout Western New York. Health-care agencies that are affiliated with the School of Nursing and provide the major clinical laboratories include area hospitals, adult and child day-care centers, schools, nursing homes, home health-care agencies, and a variety of community-based programs. Individual clinical placements have been negotiated nationwide to meet particular student needs.

The approximately 500 students in the School of Nursing are almost evenly divided between the undergraduate and graduate programs. The programs attract ethnically and racially diverse students from across the nation and internationally.

All students enrolled in nursing programs are members of the Student Association of the University. Both graduate and undergraduate nursing student organizations provide opportunities to participate in school governance through committee representation.

The School maintains membership in the national honor society in nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, Inc., through the Gamma Kappa Chapter. The School also holds membership in the National Student Nurses Association.