ACC Health Sciences Curriculum Development Specialist Ellen Wuertz is a finalist for a national community college Bellwether Award.

The Bellwether Awards, presented by the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida, are a yearly recognition of “outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future.”

Wuertz, a registered nurse who holds a Master of Public Health degree, is a finalist in the Instructional Programs and Services category for her work on a nursing retention grant.

Wuertz will make a presentation on her program as part of the Bellwether Award competition in late January. She will focus on the impact of new and expanded interventions designed to improve retention of students in the Associate Degree Nursing Department.

“Ellen has done an outstanding job and is an asset to the division,” says Eileen Klein, executive dean of Health Sciences.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provided the initial support for the retention program in 2008; it is currently funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration grant.