Shenandoah University’s Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing is one of 50 nursing schools from 28 states chosen by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to participate in a national initiative to foster inclusive learning environments and build a more diverse nursing workforce.
In January 2022, AACN began a project titled “Building a Culture of Belonging in Academic Nursing,” which received funding from Johnson & Johnson. To support the project, AACN developed a digital platform to administer its Leading Across Multidimensional Perspectives (LAMP) Culture and Climate Survey.
According to the AACN, the LAMP Culture and Climate Survey collects data on student, faculty and staff perceptions of their college classrooms in five areas: fair treatment and observations of discrimination, belongingness, value of diversity and inclusion, campus services, and clinical training.
Shenandoah was chosen as a participant in the survey from a pool of nearly 250 applicants, and is one of two nursing schools in Virginia selected. AACN announced the selections on July 28.
We are honored to have been chosen by the AACN to participate in the LAMP Culture and Climate Survey. This work directly contributes to our mission and furthers our efforts in the School of Nursing to support an inclusive learning environment and a sense of belonging to facilitate a diverse nursing workforce.”
Lisa Levinson, M.S., acting dean of Shenandoah University’s Eleanor W. Custer School of Nursing
AACN will use data collected via the LAMP Culture and Climate Survey to provide institution-level assessments and action reports to participating schools regarding the development of inclusive academic environments. This will provide administrators with a better understanding of how their campus climate influences student experiences and achievement, and provide educators with the information needed to initiate change, identify areas of growth and improve student outcomes. AACN also will use data collected to identify best practices and success strategies that can be implemented at institutions across the country.
Levinson will work closely with the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity committee in Shenandoah’s School of Nursing to conduct the survey.
Pilot testing for the LAMP Culture and Climate Survey will be completed in spring 2023, and AACN will disseminate aggregate findings to all schools of nursing next year.
About the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
The AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 850 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. For more information, visit aacnnursing.org.
