Texas Lawmakers Adopt a Special Resolution Commemorating the Nursing Program at St. Edward’s University
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s is proud to announce that the Texas House of Representatives has honored the university with a special resolution on Nurse Day at the Capitol, recognizing the launch of the new Nursing program and School of Health Sciences.
Today, Texas House Representative Lulu Flores, District 51, joined lawmakers of the 89th Texas Legislature at the State Capitol to adopt the resolution HB 422 — commending St. Edward’s for the grand opening of the innovative program on January 28, 2025. Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini, District 21, also recognized the university and the nursing program on the Senate floor.
“The expansion of our health science curriculum is a key component in elevating our commitment to Strategic Plan 2027 — focusing on academic excellence by providing a world-class health education that will have a lasting impact on the ongoing nursing shortage in Austin and across the country,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes. “Through this program, our esteemed Nursing faculty, guided by our Interim Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Founding Director of Nursing, Donna Beuk, will prepare students to provide compassionate patient care while addressing healthcare access and community wellbeing.”
During the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, university leadership, Texas state lawmakers, Austin city leaders, local health officials and long-standing supporters of St. Edward’s came together to commemorate the milestone achievement.
Also in attendance were members of the Ladies of Charity of Austin, a woman-run Catholic organization serving the Austin community since 1880. During the reception, charity representatives participated in a check-signing presentation for a $1 million gift towards renovations for the new school and its instructional labs in Fleck Hall. The School of Health Sciences finished its initial phase of construction inside of Fleck Hall in the summer of 2024 — completed with the state-of-the-art Simulation and Learning Resource Center (SLRC), where Nursing students utilize high-quality equipment and manikins to gain experience in real-life scenarios healthcare.
In Fall 2024, the school welcomed its inaugural cohort of students in the Nursing program and hosted the first-ever White Coat Ceremony, where 10 students received their white coats — symbolizing the beginning of their journey entering clinical patient care.
The Department of Nursing offers three exceptional pathways designed for a variety of students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; a Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing; an Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West. The American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation designated St. Edward’s research university status in 2025.
