The College of Allied Health and Nursing was formed in 1994 but has a legacy that dates to the beginning of the nursing program in the 1950s. The University has reconfigured academic programs several times over the years.

The University’s Nursing program has been through structural changes multiple times in its history resulting in naming variations for schools, divisions, and colleges at different times. Between 1953 and the present, the divisions would go through a series of name changes which would lead to their becoming a single college. The Nursing program began at Mankato State College in 1953 but was not approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing until the mid-1950s and the National Board of Nursing until the 1960s. The Division of Nursing was established in 1953 due to the shortage of nurses during WWII, which is detailed in the collection. The Division of Health and Physical Education, also established in 1953 and in 1970, the school of Health, Physical Education, and Nursing would come into existence. The two divisions and the school would remain formations until 1977, when the first restructuring took place. The first alteration in 1978 produced the College of Health, Physical Education, and Nursing, within it was the School of Nursing. The next shift occurred in 1991 and lasted until 1994, this was the creation of the College of Health and Human Performance which still included a School of Nursing. Since 1994, the College has been renamed as College of Allied Health and Nursing and there has also been a School of Nursing under the college level. These remain the current names of the college and school today.

1953- 1970 - Division of Nursing

1953- 1970 - Division of Health and Physical Education

1970 – 1977 - School of Health, Physical Education, and Nursing Division of Nursing Division of Health and Physical Education 1978 – 1991 College of Health, Physical Education, and Nursing School of Nursing 1991-1994 – College of Health and Human Performance School of Nursing 1994 – present – College of Allied Health and Nursing School of Nursing