Student Support

Since its beginning in community-based education in 1989, the FNU faculty has discovered that community-based learners have special needs. This is why the FNU offers so many different avenues of support for students.

Faculty Support

Each class has a faculty member as Student Advisor who helps students to individualize their program of study and maintains contact with each student throughout the program. Faculty members keep regular office and appointment hours each week and have a phone dedicated to FNU, allowing students to have easy access to them. Regional Clinical Coordinators can assist students in finding a clinical site and work with students and preceptors during the clinical practicum.

Student Services

The purpose of Student Services is to foster student learning and development by providing highest quality services that enhance students' educational experiences and that prepare students to fulfill the mission of The Frontier Nursing University. The FNU has a Coordinator of Student Services who is available to support students throughout the program. There is a Student Services Webpage that contains a variety of resources for FNU students including financial aid, library services, and technical support information. Tips for scholarly writing, test taking, and studying are also available. The Student Services Webpage is located here.

SAGE (Supporting Achievement in Graduate Education) Mentoring Program

The SAGE peer mentoring program was developed by students, for students. The birth of the program was from students who felt that they could reach out to others because they have “been there, done that.” SAGE is designed to provide a supportive network to students as they adjust academically and emotionally to graduate distance learning.  SAGE will combine one-on-one peer mentoring, group activities and recognition of student activities and performance to increase student retention at FNU.

The SAGE program facilitates mentoring of new students by experienced students through a SAGE forum and weekly one-on-one interaction. Interested students should download an application from the SAGE website. The SAGE program is coordinated by the Director of Recruitment and Retention.

Student Council

The Student Council is composed of elected student members from each FNU class who agree to act as class representatives. The mission of the Student Council is to help each FNU student’s experience to be as positive as possible. The Student Council believes that each individual is an integral part of the success of the FNU. The Student Council encourages active student involvement in the issues that affect students and serves as student advocates to this end. The Student Council aims to achieve their mission through promoting good communication between students, faculty and administration. For further information about the Student Council, visit the Student Services Webpage.

Banyan Tree Communications Portal

The FNU uses its own private communications portal, known as the Banyan Tree (BT). It allows users to access other students, faculty, or alumni on topics ranging from course updates, case studies, discussion groups, and assignments and practice issues to family and fun topics. With a computer, Internet service and a good sense of humor, the members of the FNU community are always in touch. The FNU has created a prerequisite electronic communication course: Banyan Tree 101 (BT101), which is taught with a hands-on approach with step-by-step instructions. BT101 was designed carefully to be non-threatening and non-intimidating. Additional instruction and practice are part of Frontier Bound. Students have access to technical support as necessary during regular business hours.

Library Services

The Alice Whitman Memorial Library is the academic library for the Frontier Nursing University (FNU). A collection of books, journals, and audiovisuals is available to students and faculty whether on-campus or off-site. The FNU provides access to a large number of remote resources including bibliographic and full-text databases, online journals and texts, tutorials, and other relevant Websites. The FNU librarian acquaints all new students to the library as part of orientation and is available for student meetings by phone or e-mail. More information about the library can be found at Library Page.

Alumni Association of the Frontier Nursing University

The purpose of the FNU Alumni Association is to promote FNU, increase loyalty of alumni, and create a mutually beneficial relationship between the institution and alumni. The Alumni Association represents over 2,000 alumni who have graduated from the FNU since its inception in 1939. Further information about the Alumni Association can be found on the Alumni page.