Weber State University’s Dumke College of Health Professions began over 70 years ago with the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. Launched after World War II to address a critical national nursing shortage intensified by the North Korean conflict, the program was selected in 1953 as one of seven U.S. pilot sites for Mildred Montag’s two-year associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) research project, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Despite initial resistance from the local medical community, the first class of 36 students and faculty, led by Director Ruth Swenson, earned widespread support through their success, leading to program accreditation in 1966. Since 1971, ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø has served as Utah’s designated ADN provider, developing a nationally recognized "career-ladder" approach with diverse delivery models including ADN, BSN, MSN, and DNP degrees, alongside rural and urban outreach programs.
Today, the school partners with technical colleges through a PN-to-RN program and hosts ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s only doctoral program. The ADN model has since expanded from the original seven pilots in 1953 to more than 900 programs nationwide.