MEDIA CONTACT: Cara Perry

                                                                                772-873-3339, ccarlton@fau.edu or

                                                                                 Linda Holtz

                                                                                 561-297-0159, lholtz@fau.edu

FAU Receives Two Gifts to Support College of Nursing Programs on the Treasure Coast Campus

          PORT ST. LUCIE, FL (April 27, 2006) – Florida Atlantic University has received two gifts totaling $450,000 that are earmarked for Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing programs on FAU’s Treasure Coast campus. The gifts were established by three Treasure Coast hospitals, the St. Lucie Medical Center, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute and Raulerson Hospital.  The hospitals are part of HCA Health Services of Florida Inc. 

            Launching a partnership between FAU and the three hospitals, the gifts have been designed to address the Treasure Coast’s significant nursing shortage. As one of the premier programs in the country, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is helping to build a strong healthcare workforce on the Treasure Coast by educating future nurses. As part of this collaboration, FAU nursing students will participate in clinical rotations at one of the three named hospitals.

            The first gift will provide funding for two faculty appointments within the college of nursing on the Treasure Coast campus.  As outlined in the gift agreement, each appointment will be for a period of two years, beginning in July 2006.  The second gift will establish the “Treasure Coast Nursing Scholars” fund.  This fund will enable FAU to award 20 scholarships to eligible degree-seeking, upper-level nursing students on the Treasure Coast.

            “This most generous gift will have a transformative impact upon the Treasure Coast community,” said Dr. Anne Boykin, dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.  “With scholarship opportunities available to deserving students and two new faculty members, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing will grow alongside this rapidly developing region.  We wish to thank our partner hospitals as they join us in bringing our nurses to the forefront of caring.”  

            For more information, contact Annie Boehning, director of development, Treasure Coast campus at 772-873-3340.

- FAU -

Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the university serves 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located  along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts eight colleges - the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering & Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs.