For Immediate Release
Sept. 13, 2006

UCR Extension's Certificate in Forensic Nursing named Outstanding Credit Program of the Year from University of Continuing Education Association

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. –The University Continuing Education Association has awarded UCR Extension's Certificate in Forensic Nursing as the Outstanding Credit Program in the West Region for 2006.

The Certificate in Forensic Nursing, established in June of 2003, is offered online to medical practitioners throughout the world. Students complete the certificate at their own pace enrolling in classes when they have the time and taking breaks if they need to between classes.  Because medical professionals are often called upon to devote long hours responding to major disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorist acts, UCR Extension created an online certificate program that was flexible and could be completed at one's own pace.

"I am delighted to hear this good news, " said Jack Azzaretto, Vice Chancellor of Public Service and International Programs and Dean of UCR Extension. "Certainly, this program, innovative in its content and delivery, is deserving of this award. Jon Kindschy, Jennifer Campbell and the staff devoted numerous hours to the development of this program, and as a result of their efforts, people in far-off communities now benefit from this specialized knowledge."

Students study evidence collection, preservation, documentation and follow-up procedures performed by health care providers as they relate to trauma, acts of violence, mass casualty incidents, sexual assaults and human abuse. In short, medical professionals are able to recognize and document injuries caused by acts of violence and provide help to victims, whether they are children, adults or the aged.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition from our peers," said Jon Kindschy, director of Natural and Social Sciences.  "The instructors, advisers and staff of the Natural and Social Sciences Department contributed to the team effort that resulted in this, our third UCEA Innovative Programming Award in the last 11 years."

The Certificate in Forensic Nursing demonstrates how online learning can deliver highly specialized curriculum, with instructors and students from throughout the world that would otherwise be inaccessible without great expense and inconvenience, Kindschy said.

The program was created after a student asked if UCR Extension offered a certificate in forensic nursing. Jennifer Campbell, program director, worked with American Forensic Nursing, Inc. to identify expert instructors who now teach in Extension's program. Twenty-seven students have earned a Certificate in Forensic Nursing and there are currently 109 students enrolled in the program. For more information about the Certificate in Forensic Nursing, call (951) 827-5804.

UCR Extension is the continuing education division of the University of California, Riverside. Extension offers more than 1,800 courses and 79 certificate programs. To register for classes, call (951) 827-4105. To receive a free UCR Extension catalog, call (951) 827-3806.