Samuel Merritt University Timeline
1909
Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing opens on January 26, 1909 with dormitories on the second and third floors of the South Ward of Samuel Merritt Hospital.
1911
Mrs. Henrietta Farrelly donates $50,000 to Samuel Merritt Hospital to build Farrelly Home for Student Nurses freeing the second and third floors of the Hospital, which had been used to house nursing students.
1912
The first class of 13 students graduates from Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing.
1914
The California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM) was founded in 1914 as the California School of Chiropody. The name was later changed to the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM).
1930
Fabiola Hospital, the first general hospital in the East Bay, closes due to the market crash of 1929 and subsequent lean years.
1940
Samuel Merritt Hospital is named beneficiary of Fabiola Hospital's assets due to the Hospital coming nearest to paralleling Fabiola's own benevolent program of providing care and services to the medically indigent, as well as educating student nurses.
Responding to the need for more nurses due to the threat of war, Samuel Merritt participates in the Federal government's Cadet Nursing Corps, offering scholarships to high school graduates to bring them into nursing.
1956
Board of Review for Diploma Programs of the National League for Nursing visits and accredits Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing for the first time.
1957
Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing affiliates with Mills College where student nurses fulfill general studies requirements.
Scholarship fund initiated by alumni to support enrolled students.
1960
Barbara Bechtel Davies, graduate of Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing, becomes first women member of Merritt Hospital Board of Directors.
1965
Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing sponsors a six-week training program for hospital housekeeping and dietary aides in association with Laney College, sixteen students are graduated.
Mills College provides courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology and sociology for Samuel Merritt nursing students.
1966
Bechtel Hall and Towne Court are dedicated in conjunction with homecoming celebration for alumni.
1967
Twenty-two of the 33 graduates of Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing are immediately employed at Samuel Merritt Hospital.
1968
Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing opens an instructional laboratory (later to become known as the Nursing Resource Lab) and audiovisual center (later to become known as Studio Three) in Towne Court.
1970
Samuel Merritt Hospital launches a major expansion effort, named Project 70, designed to develop the hospital into one of the nation's largest leading medical institution. The five-year plan began with a new School of Nursing Residence, replacing Farrelly Hall. A six-story complex with living accommodations for 160 students, the residence is christened Bechtel Hall in honor of the Stephen D. Bechtel family, major contributors to the building project.
1971
The East Bay Health Foundation recommends consolidation of services by four hospitals: Samuel Merritt, Peralta, Providence, and Children's. All four boards agree in principal.
1973
A male student enrolls in the freshman Summer Program and subsequently joins the junior class.
1975
Graduation for 70 students is held at the First United Presbyterian Church. This is the largest class to graduate from Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing and includes the first man to graduate from the School.
1976
Sharon C. Diaz, who joined the school as a medical-surgical nursing instructor in 1973, is appointed acting Director of the College.
A housing policy is approved requiring all unmarried students who have not reached their 25th birthday by September 1, 1976, to live in housing provide by the School.
Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing affiliations with the College of Alameda for the associate of science degree in nursing.
1977
Board of Registered Nursing approves a curriculum for a joint nursing program with Saint Mary's College of California. Students receive an Associate of Science from Saint Mary's and a diploma from Samuel Merritt.
1979
Studio Three, the College's audiovisual center, makes a public debut on local cable stations.
1980
Samuel Merritt Hospital Board of Directors approves change of name to Samuel Merritt Hospital College of Nursing.
Samuel Merritt Hospital Board of Directors approves resolution for Samuel Merritt Hospital College of Nursing to affiliate with Saint Mary's College for a joint bachelor of science in nursing degree.
The first class of cooperative AD/Diploma graduates commences with Saint Mary's College graduates.
1981
The California State Department of Education approves Samuel Merritt Hospital College of Nursing as a degree-granting institution.
Diploma program is discontinued. An innovative four-year baccalaureate degree nursing program is established in cooperation with Saint Mary's College of California.
Board of Registered Nursing approves Intercollegiate Nursing Program curriculum.
1982
Samuel Merritt Hospital and Peralta Hospital merge to become Merritt Peralta Medical Center.
Merritt Peralta Foundation votes provisional support for campaign to build library and auditorium adjoining Bechtel Hall.
An inaugural Convocation is held to celebrate the appointment of the first chancellor, Mr. Richard J. McCann, and the first President, Ms. Sharon L. Diaz.
1983
Dr. Gordon Lamb and Mr. Richard Wickel are awarded honorary nursing degrees during the Samuel Merrritt College/Saint Mary's College Intercollegiate Nursing Commencement.
1984
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges grants full accreditation without benefit of a candidacy period; Samuel Merritt becomes one of the first nursing schools in the national to become a fully accredited college.
At Samuel Merritt - Saint Mary's Intercollegiate Nursing Program commencement ceremonies, Barbara Bechtel Davies is awarded the College's first Honorary Doctorate in Nursing Humanities.
1985
A homecoming is held with 800 alumni and guest attending.
The Health Education Center opens. The Center has 13 classrooms, a 250-seat auditorium, a nursing resource laboratory and the John A. Graizano Memorial Library.
1986
Samuel Merritt College of Nursing receives notice from the Internal Revenue Service of exempt status under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt status notification from the State of California Franchise Tax Board.
The first Samuel Merritt College of Nursing Board is appointed: Ms. Sharon Diaz, Dr. Gordon Frost, Mr. George Hill, Mr. Gordon Huber, Jr., Dr. William S.T. Jackson, Mr. Richard J. McCann and Ms. Marlene Settlemier.
1987
A kinetic sculpture Universalis Centralis by Jerome Kirk is placed in the Towne Plaza of the Health Education Center.
A Dedication Ceremony is held on October 15th for the Fontaine Auditorium.
Samuel Merritt Hospital Board of Directors approves transfer of selected assets to Samuel Merritt College of Nursing.
1988
The Samuel Merritt College Board of Regents passes resolution establishing the Samuel Merritt College Nursing Education Endowment Fund and the Samuel Merritt College Endowment Fund.
A feasibility study for a graduate program in physical therapy is presented to the Samuel Merritt College Board of Regents.
1989
Samuel Merritt College Board of Regents approves legal change for Samuel Merritt College of Nursing as DBA Samuel Merritt College.
1990
The Department of Physical Therapy is founded, the first health science discipline added to the then single-purpose nursing institution. The first class of entry-level master's of physical therapy students is enrolled.
1990-1994
Graduate programs established during this period include: Master of Science in Nursing with specialization in Nursing of High-Risk Populations, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia; Master of Science in Physical Therapy with orthopedic and neurological specialties; and the Master of Occupational Therapy.
1992
Merritt Peralta Medical Center and Providence Hospital consolidate to become Summit Medical Center.
Samuel Merritt College holds first Graduate Commencement for the charter class of the master of physical program.
1993
The Board of Regents approves development of a master of occupational therapy program.
One hundred percent of the charter class of the master of physical therapy program passes the national licensure examination.
1994
First international nursing course takes place in London, England, with 15 students enrolled.
Articles of Incorporation, changing the schools name from Samuel Merritt College of Nursing to Samuel Merritt College, are approved by the State of California, Office of the Secretary of State.
The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program awards full accreditation to the graduate program in nurse anesthesia.
Graduate Commencement, including the first Master of Science in Nursing graduates is held at the First Presbyterian Church.
The Occupational Therapy Program is established and the first occupational therapy students oriented to the College.
An open house is held to celebrate completion of the physical therapy and occupational therapy laboratory and classroom construction in the West Pavilion.
1995
The Board of Regents approves a feasibility study for a Department of Health and Human Sciences.
Initial approval from the Board of Registered Nursing is received for the family nurse practitioner program.
1996
Bachelor's degree program established in health and human sciences.
Scholars in Service program implemented to serve the diverse needs of the East Bay through minority enrollment in the undergraduate nursing program.
An entry-level master's degree option for college graduates (ELMSN) is initiated.
The occupational therapy program graduates the charter class of Master of Occupational Therapy students.
1997
Master of Science in Nursing Case Management track established. Entry-level master's degree program initiated to serve college graduates.
1999
Samuel Merritt College becomes the first institution of higher education to receive the California Governor's Quality Award.
California's first entry-level graduate Physician Assistant Program is established at Samuel Merritt College.
Enrollment reaches high of 748 students in seven degree programs.
Summit Medical Center and Alta Bates Hospital merge to become Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.
2001
Master of Science in Nursing - Online program established.
Sacramento Regional Office opened for Entry-level Master of Science in Nursing program. The College's first remote site to open nursing courses outside Samuel Merritt's main campus on "Pill Hill" in Oakland.
Nursing becomes the first program to be offered at a distance from the Oakland campus with the inauguration of the Entry-level Master of Science in Nursing program at the Sacramento Regional Office.
2002
California College of Podiatric Medicine merges with Samuel Merritt College becoming the California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education approve an entry-level doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) and the charter class is enrolled. This is the first Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in Northern California.
2004
Samuel Merritt College's graduates of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Master Physician Assistant program surpass the national averaged on their certification and/or licensure exams.
A new certificate program in Examination, Assessment and Intervention of the Hand and Upper Quadrant is established.
Commencement Exercise is held for the charter class of Entry-level of Master's of Science in Nursing students from the Sacramento Regional Center.
Samuel Merritt continues in a growth mode with enrollment for fall 2005 just under 1,100 students.
Bachelor of Science accelerated program for college graduates (ABSN) admits for class.
The Physician Assistant Program graduates achieve 100 percent pass rates on the National Certifying Examination for the third year running.
Samuel Merritt College forges innovative partnerships with three regionally accredited colleges and universities to restructure its undergraduate nursing program to address the state's nursing shortage and better accommodate the increased demand for bachelor's prepared registered nurses. Agreements are entered into with Holy Names University, Mills College and Saint Mary's College of California to offer general education course work in an innovative 2+2 program.
Samuel Merritt College reaches milestone of student enrollment in excess of 1,100 and are eligible for freeway signage. Samuel Merritt College freeway signs are placed at exits on freeways near College campus in Oakland.
2006
Samuel Merritt College's San Francisco Learning Center open's its doors on the St. Luke's Medical Center campus.
2007
Samuel Merritt College is named the copyright holder of a new journal - The National Foot and Ankle Review.
Samuel Merritt opens its state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center on its Oakland campus enabling the College to adopt simulation learning throughout its health professional programs.
Samuel Merritt College opens San Mateo Local Learning Center. The Center houses two classrooms, a 12 bed patient bed skills lab, ten private offices a computer lab/library, conference room and a break/lounge room.
Both the Charter class of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science Program of 48 new graduates, and the Entry-level Master of Science in Nursing in Sacramento (40 graduates) receive 100 percent first-time pass rates on the state licensing examination, NCLEX.
2008
Last class graduates from the joint Intercollegiate BSN degree program offered collaboratively with Saint Mary's College of California since 1981.
Samuel Merritt College's San Mateo Learning Center opens doors for nursing students.
2009
January 26, 2009, Samuel Merritt College celebrates its centennial and announces its name change to Samuel Merritt University.