For nearly two decades, FNU has emphasized the importance of increasing diversity enrollment and retention through a number of initiatives. FNU’s many DEI initiatives include the implementation of a holistic admissions process, the expansion of its Office of DEI staff, diversity training for all members of the FNU community, mentoring programs, the formation of six Student Interest Groups, and the establishment of DEI Faculty Fellow and DEI Staff Ambassador programs. FNU’s enrollment of students of color, just 9% in 2010, has grown to 30% today.
OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was formed in 2018 with a goal to ensure students, faculty and staff are provided with an environment that promotes DEI and encourages the success of all community members.
The Office of DEI encompasses an atmosphere built on a culture of caring. The Office of DEI solicits the equitable perspectives of students, faculty and staff regardless of race, gender, sexual preference or identity, disability and/or religion. In congruence with FNU, the mission of the Office of DEI is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural and underserved populations.
Each year, the Office of DEI hosts the Diversity Impact Conference, bringing together renowned thought leaders and speakers to increase awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the healthcare workforce, particularly for those working in underserved and rural communities.
"DEI initiatives are beginning to revolutionize how healthcare providers approach their practice as we foster a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system by raising awareness, encouraging active voices, enhancing cultural safety, amplifying patient advocacy, and transforming organizational policies. Lessons learned in DEI initiatives will have a lifesaving impact on our work in healthcare. Together, we are shaping a future where health care is safe, accessible, equitable, and unbiased for everyone."
- Tanya Belcheff, DNP, CNM
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
- FNU is a national leader in DEI and a six-time winner of the INSIGHT Into Diversity“Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, recognized 2018-2024.
- FNU is a recipient of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) Grant.
- FNU received the 2023 award for Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education, presented by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant to Frontier Nursing University in 2023. FNU intends to increase the number and diversity of the nurse-midwifery workforce with a focus on increasing the Hispanic population of nurse-midwives.
FNU is a Member of
We are committed to promoting social mission in nursing education. “Social mission” refers to the contributions a school makes to health equity and addressing the health disparities of the society in which it exists.
The Age-Friendly Global Network serves as a collective platform for institutes of higher education committed to creating inclusive and supportive environments across the lifespan.
Antiracism Statement
“At Frontier Nursing University we oppose injustice and cruelty and condemn racism in all its forms. We support peaceful protests and demonstrations and join all those working to end systemic racism, racial violence, and police brutality. We are committed to building a culture that is inclusive and caring for all.”
~Dr. Susan Stone, President Emerita, Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing~
Diversity News
Frontier Nursing University Faculty Selected for 2025 AACN Diversity Leadership Institute
Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced that three of its faculty have been selected by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to participate in the organization’s 2025 Diversity … [Read More...]
Latino/a Student Interest Group builds connections at FNU
National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, honors the contributions of Hispanic Americans to U.S. history, culture, and achievements. At Frontier Nursing University … [Read More...]
Frontier Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the Seventh Consecutive Year
Frontier Nursing University has received the 2024 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest … [Read More...]