Conference Schedule
Click here for registration information.

Saturday, March 11

10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Registration

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

12:00-1:20 p.m.
Committee Meetings

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Opening Program Session
Creating a Philosophy of Fundraising
Sponsored by Nursing Advancement Professionals
Consider a philosophy of fundraising that will help you pick up the phone and make one more call when you would rather do just about anything else. Relax, put your pen down and think big picture.
Speaker: Carol Weisman, MSW, CSP, President, Board Builders, Inc., St. Louis, MO

2:30-3:00 p.m.
Break

3:00-4:30 p.m.
Program Session
Sponsored by the Government Affairs Committee

5:00-6:30 p.m.
New Dean Mentoring Program
Sponsored by the Dean Mentoring Subcommittee
Members of the mentor/mentee program are invited to meet with each other to discuss the value of mentoring as a valuable professional development opportunity for new deans.
The session is timed so that participants may continue their discussions during individually arranged dinners if they so desire.

Sunday, March 12

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Informal Discussion Forums
Join colleagues from like schools to discuss issues of interest and importance to each group.

10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open

11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Registration

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Orientation for New Members, New Deans, and Prospective Members
Sponsored by the Membership Committee
Join this group to learn more about the association, how it can benefit you, and how you can become active within it.

12:00-1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own) and Visit Exhibits

1:30-3:00 p.m.
Task Force Updates

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Stretch Break

3:15-4:30 p.m.
Program Session
The Role of the Dean in Preparing Nurses to Meet the Challenges of an Aging Population
Older adults are the "core business" of health care, representing over 50% of hospital discharges and 90% of nursing home residents. Care to older adults delivered by nurses prepared in geriatrics significantly improves outcomes. Consider how deans can positively influence curriculum, competencies, and attitudes of students and faculty in this important specialty.
Speaker: Mathy Mezey, EdD, Independence Foundation Professor of Nursing Education and Director of the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY

4:30-5:00 p.m.
Stretch Break

5:00-6:15 p.m.
Individual Membership Awards
The Nursing Spectrum/Gannett Foundation Lectureship

6:15-7:30 p.m.
Reception and Exhibits
Cash Bar

Monday, March 13

7:20-8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Be a Leader Among Leaders
Those who would like to explore becoming more active in the work and issues of the association are invited to join this informal discussion about leadership opportunities.
Facilitator: Jeanette Lancaster, PhD, President-Elect, AACN

8:45-9:45 a.m.
Dialogue with the Board
Issues Forum

9:45-10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Business Meeting
President Jean Bartels

12:00-1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Business Meeting (continued)

2:30 p.m.
Capitol Hill Visits (on your own)
Meetings with your federal legislators are a priority during AACN meetings. Although they may not occur on Monday afternoon during the allotted time, we encourage you to schedule congressional appointments in advance for your time in Washington. Legislative advocacy is an essential role of the dean, and AACN's Government Affairs staff stands ready to help prepare you for your Hill visit.

Tuesday, March 14

8:00-8:30 a.m.
Light Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Program Session
Federal Updates
Obtain highlights on national funding opportunities important to nursing education.
Speakers: Denise Geolot, PhD, Director, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD (Invited); and Patricia Grady, PhD, Director, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (Invited)

10:00-10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closing Program Session
Navigating Together Toward Baccalaureate Education
Join presidents of the leading national nursing organizations for a discussion that explores the importance of the baccalaureate degree to the future of nursing, as well as priorities and initiatives of the organizations - individually and together - for advancing baccalaureate education in nursing.
Speakers: Jean Bartels, PhD, President, American Association of Colleges of Nursing; Barbara Blakeney, MS, President, American Nurses Association; Kathleen Sanford, DBA, President, American Organization of Nurse Executives; and L. Antoinette (Toni) Bargagliotti, DNSc, President, National League for Nursing

General Information

Registration
The registration fee for the 2006 Spring Annual Meeting is $389. The deadline for early registration is Friday, February 17, 2006, after which the registration fee is $459. E-mail messages confirming registration for this meeting will be sent to all participants. Please note that the Spring Annual Meeting is open only to the dean/chair/director of AACN member institutions.

Register online at https://www.aacn.nche.edu/Registration/registration.asp or click here to download a registration form.

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at The Fairmont Washington, 2401 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; (202) 429-2400 or (877) 222-2266. The room rate is $205 single/double. The cutoff date for hotel reservations is February 15, 2006. To make reservations, please call the hotel directly and request the group rate for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Reservations made after February 15 will be on a space and rate available basis only. Please make your reservations early as space fills quickly at the hotel.

As of January 1, 2006 members of the Fairmont President's Club can enjoy complimentary high speed internet access in their guest room and free health club access along with other benefits. To sign up for Fairmont President's club go to www.fairmont.com. In order to take advantage of the complimentary services you must sign up for Fairmont President's Club prior to your arrival.

Please note: The group block at the Fairmont Washington is currently full. AACN recommends the following hotels in the area that may have availability over the meeting dates.

Transportation
Reagan National Airport (DCA) is located approximately 15 minutes from The Fairmont Hotel. Dulles International Airport (IAD) is approximately 30 minutes from the hotel. Baltimore/ Washington Airport (BWI) is approximately one hour from the hotel. Taxis are recommended from Reagan National and Dulles Airports; Super Shuttle is available for ground transportation from BWI (approximate cost is $35 each way).

Continuing Education
Continuing Education contact hours will be provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to all conference participants at no additional cost. CE certificates will be provided in your conference packet.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Registrations that are canceled up to one week before the meeting will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations received with less than one week's notice will be refunded minus a $150 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for no-shows.

AACN reserves the right to cancel this conference and any group activity that does not meet minimal group requirements. Non-refundable airline tickets are the responsibility of the registrant.

Additional Information
Those who attended the 2004 AACN Fall Meeting were able to see a taste of the Hexagon show. Hexagon is Washington’s only original political, satirical, musical, comedy review for the benefit of charity. Over the past 50 years Hexagon has raised over $3.2 million for charity. This year’s beneficiary is Hospice. This year’s show, “You Only Run Twice”, is from March 1-25 with performances Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m. & Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. The performances are at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Georgetown at 3500 R Street, NW (2 blocks from Wisconsin Avenue), just a short cab ride from The Fairmont Washington. Tickets are $20-$25. If you would like more information about Hexagon or are interested in attending a performance while you are in Washington, please visit
www.hexagon.org.

For more information contact AACN, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 463-6930. If you require any special access in order to take part in this meeting, please contact Shana Cohen at AACN or by e-mail at scohen@aacn.nche.edu. The Fairmont Washington Hotel is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information about this and other AACN conferences is available at the AACN Web site, www.aacn.nche.edu.

Program Committee
Joan Creasia, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Chair)
Linda Cronenwett, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Kathy Dracup, University of California-San Francisco
Susan Fetsch, Avila University
Doreen Harper, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Elaine Marshall, Brigham Young University
Mary Beth Mathews, University of Hartford
Judeen Schulte, Alverno College