Mennonite Sanitarium Association incorporated.
A History of Excellence
While many hospital nursing schools were founded in the early part of the 20th century, few of them survived. Fewer still developed into full-fledged degree-granting institutions.
Founded in 1919, in our 100-year-long history Mennonite College of Nursing — first dubbed the Mennonite Sanitarium Training School, then the Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing and finally, MCN — has graduated thousands of exceptionally well-prepared nurses. It is impossible to imagine what healthcare in McLean County, Illinois and the surrounding area would look like without the contribution of those hardworking, compassionate, and caring individuals.
Mennonite College of Nursing survived not only the trials and tribulations that come with the founding of any institution, but also the Great Depression and the Great Recession. We celebrated the first day that women were allowed to vote and we celebrated the last day of WWII. We sent nurses to serve in Korea and Vietnam. We have seen countless changes in the way healthcare is administered, and have watched as technology reshapes modern medicine. Our research is revolutionizing the way that students learn, re-imagining the student clinical experience, and paving the way for a new model of healthcare that focuses on keeping patients healthy.
Again and again Mennonite College of Nursing has adapted to the needs of our community, and most importantly, the needs of our students.
We are proud.
We are strong.
We are so incredibly thankful for this 100-year-long adventure.
And we are still rising.
Historical Highlights
First class graduates from Mennonite Sanitarium Training School.
Mennonite Sanitarium Training School was changed to Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing.
Nursing students participate in Cadet Nursing Corps.
First male student graduates from Mennonite School of Nursing.
Summer Service Program (currently called Transcultural Experience) was started.
The Chairman of the Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing Board of Directors, William E. Dunn, publicly announced the establishment of Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN).
First baccalaureate class enrolled at MCN.
Last graduation ceremony for diploma students, and first class to graduate with a degree from Mennonite College of Nursing.
First independent College of Nursing in the nation to be accredited by the National League for Nursing.
First Candlelighting Ceremony.
MCN joins Illinois State University.
First nursing student to receive ISU's Bone Scholarship.
New PhD in Nursing Program approved.
MCN graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.
MCN Nursing Simulation Lab opens and America's Promise grant program started.
$1.1 million, three-year Nursing Workforce Diversity grant received from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to help with recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups to the nursing profession. MCN establishes PROUD.
MCN is the recipient of a federal Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship grant of nearly $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the education of nurse practitioners.
MCN graduates first Doctor of Nursing Practice students.
MCN received a $1.4 million Advance Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant from the Bureau of Health Workforce in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to focus on rural and underserved populations. (July)
MCN received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support developing diversity in the nursing workforce. (June)
MCN launches Nursing Leadership Academy.
MCN's America's Promise School Project received an AACN Awards for Innovation in Nursing Education. (September)
MCN was named a new strategic partner by the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC). (March)
Illinois State University's online nursing program (Nursing Systems Administration) is ranked as one of the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs according to U.S. News & World Report for the fourth year, and the online RN to BSN program was also ranked for the second year as one of the Best Online Bachelor's Program. (January)
Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing ranked as one of the Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report and for the first time the Doctor of Nursing Practice was also ranked. (March)
MCN received a $2.8 million grant from Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) to launch the Change Agents to the Underserved: Service Education (CAUSE) project. (July)
MCN celebrates 100 years.
The Keepers of The Flame: 100 Years of Stories
By Susan Blystone
Want more history? Check out our new history book. In celebration of our centennial anniversary, it features stories and photos from MCN's 100 years of nursing education.