Reflections from 2021 Ecosystem

The 2021 Inclusive Excellence Ecosystem for Academic Nursing was a pivotal step forward. It:

  • Elevated the importance of creating environments where all students could thrive.
  • Sparked conversations about access, representation, support, and institutional transformation.
  • Served as a starting point for many programs, laying the groundwork for deeper inquiry and cultural change.

One of its most important contributions was broadening the definition of success. Nursing programs began asking not just who gets in the door, but also who feels seen, supported, and able to thrive once inside. This shift encouraged institutions to examine access, climate, connection, and community, especially for students with limited representation in nursing.

As schools engaged with the framework, deeper challenges surfaced:

  • Well-being, psychological safety, and belonging were concerns for both students, staff, and faculty.
  • The framework revealed gaps and inconsistencies, showing that awareness alone was not enough.

While the 2021 Ecosystem empowered early champions and generated momentum, institutions increasingly needed:

  • Structured tools to track progress
  • Frameworks for long-term alignment
  • Strategies that encompass the whole academic community: students, staff, and faculty
  • Strategies that addressed the entire academic ecosystem, including technology integration, workforce development, and community partnerships

Evolving the Language of Excellence

Then

Inclusive Excellence

Focused on inclusion as a distinct goal — ensuring access, representation, and belonging.

Now

Ecosystem of Excellence

Positions belonging, access, and opportunity as integral to excellence, strengthening adoption and sustainability.

“Belonging, access, and opportunity are not separate from excellence — they are essential to it.”

This reframing also broadens opportunities for adoption, reinforcing that high-quality nursing education requires environments where all learners, staff, and faculty are equipped to succeed and contribute meaningfully to the profession.

Development of the 2025 Ecosystem

Ultimately, the 2021 Inclusive Excellence Ecosystem laid the foundation for what came next: a call for shared responsibility and system-wide engagement. These insights informed the development of the 2025 Ecosystem of Excellence, designed to provide a more integrated and sustainable approach, responding directly to member feedback and aligning with evolving academic, workforce, and community needs.

In creating the 2025 Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing, AACN responded directly to the lessons and limitations identified through the use of the 2021 framework. Rather than offering incremental refinements, the team re-envisioned the model with a clear purpose: to provide a more integrated, adaptable, and sustainable guide that reflects the realities of academic nursing today.

Several key considerations anchored the development of the updated Ecosystem.

These guiding considerations informed every element of the updated framework—from its structure and language to its tools and strategies. By centering on people, systems, and sustainability, the 2025 Ecosystem of Excellence provides nursing programs with a living, adaptable foundation for shaping the future of academic nursing.

 

Honoring the Whole Academic Nursing Community

The Ecosystem supports students, staff, and faculty as essential members of academic nursing. This whole-community approach goes beyond representation, emphasizing psychological safety, well-being, and meaningful connection across all roles.

Promoting Fairness for All

This was not developed solely for individuals with limited access or representation in the nursing field. Instead, it addresses institutional barriers that affect all members of the academic community. By prioritizing fairness in systems, policies, and daily practices, the Ecosystem ensures everyone has a genuine opportunity to thrive.

Emphasizing Institutional Integration

Sustainable change cannot rely on individual champions or one-time initiatives. The Ecosystem calls for embedding strategies across institutional structures and operations so that practices advancing excellence become part of an institution’s culture—foundational rather than supplemental.

Ensuring Flexibility and Adaptability

Recognizing the wide variety of nursing programs in the United States and abroad, the Ecosystem was intentionally designed to be both aspirational and adaptable. It avoids a one-size-fits-all approach, instead allowing institutions to tailor implementation to their missions, resources, and goals.

Reinforcing Accountability

To move from intention to impact, the Ecosystem provides tools for transparency, assessment, and continuous improvement. These resources enable institutions to monitor progress, align strategies with measurable outcomes, and refine their approaches over time.

Bridging Education and the Real World

Nursing education must prepare graduates for rapidly evolving healthcare. The framework links academic programs with real-world needs, emphasizing public health, community learning, and emerging technologies—vital for a resilient, future-ready workforce.

Designing for Long-Term Sustainability

The Ecosystem was created with sustainability at its core. It is structured to evolve in tandem with changes in nursing education, healthcare delivery, and policy environments, ensuring that programs remain relevant, responsive, and prepared to lead through ongoing transformation.

Flexible Resource

The Ecosystem is practical and adaptable, reflecting the varied missions and resources across programs. It is not prescriptive; institutions are encouraged to apply the framework in ways that align with their unique contexts.

The Ecosystems Potential Impact

Whether adopted in whole or part, the Ecosystem of Excellence provides a cohesive foundation for:

  • Enhancing student achievement
  • Supporting faculty and staff development
  • Strengthening operational sustainability
  • Increasing  institutional impact

This tool kit serves as both a resource and a catalyst for action, equipping academic leaders with tools to align efforts across and pursue long-term excellence in nursing education and health outcomes.

Learn How the Ecosystem Centers Students, Faculty, and Staff

View the Heart of the Ecosystem

Why This Matters

Nursing education is at a crossroads. Rising health inequities, complex care needs, and workforce challenges demand new approaches.

Learn how the Ecosystem of Excellence responds to these realities and equips schools for lasting impact.

Read Why This Matters