Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2008
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TO: The Higher Education Committee
FROM: Frank Muñoz
SUBJECT: Master Plan Amendment: Concordia College
DATE: March 27, 2008
STRATEGIC GOAL: Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):
SUMMARY
Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)
Should the Regents approve the proposed master plan amendment for Concordia College to offer a nursing program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree?
Reason(s) for Consideration
Required by State Statute.
Proposed Handling
This question will come before the Higher Education Committee at its April 2008 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken. It will then come before the full Board at its April 15, 2008 meeting for final action.
Procedural History
Approval of master plan amendments by the Board of Regents is required by section 237 of the Education Law. Because this would be the first baccalaureate-level program in the major mission area of the health professions at the College, a master plan amendment is necessary.
Background Information
Concordia College’s Board of Regents adopted a resolution to amend the College’s Master Plan to authorize instruction in nursing leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The College currently offers baccalaureate degrees in business; educational services; teacher education; music education; music; social work; social sciences; English; liberal studies; international studies; behavioral science; history; arts management; environmental science; biology; human development; historical studies; interdisciplinary studies; and mathematics. The proposed program, which will educate nurses for lives of service to individuals with healthcare needs, supports Concordia College’s mission to engage and nurture a diverse student body in a value-oriented liberal arts education for lives of service to church and community.
The College has requested registration of a licensure-qualifying nursing program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. The proposed program would be an accelerated bachelor’s degree program for college graduates with a degree in a major other than nursing. The 120-credit program includes 55 credits in nursing course work and 6 credits of elective courses. A total of 59 credits, which must include chemistry; anatomy and physiology; and microbiology, will be accepted in transfer. The proposed program will be 15 months in length.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university; achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.2; completed courses in chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology with a minimum grade of “B” in each course and participate in a personal interview. The College anticipates that 16 to 20 students will begin the program in fall 2008. The maximum number of students in each cohort will be 32.
The faculty for the proposed program consists of two full-time nursing faculty, including the Dean. An additional full-time faculty member will be appointed in fall 2009 and another in fall 2010. Adjunct faculty will be appointed as needed for clinical instruction. The Dean holds an earned doctorate. All faculty will have a master’s degree in nursing as the minimum academic preparation. Faculty who do not have doctoral preparation will be required to enter a doctoral program within three years of their initial appointment. The non-nursing courses will be taught by existing faculty at the College.
The College was awarded a $1.89 million grant in July 2007 and received an additional $500,000, for the development of a nursing program, from an anonymous donor. Library resources at the College have been added to support the needs of the proposed nursing program. The library currently subscribes to over 20 electronic databases with full-text capability. Computer technology is readily available throughout the College. A 1000 square foot space has been designated for a Nursing Arts Laboratory. Durable and disposable equipment has been ordered. There are a number of clinical agencies in the geographic region that have indicated interest in the nursing program. Two agencies have submitted letters of commitment.
The proposed nursing program will prepare nurses to function as generalists and managers in health care agencies, as well as for career advancement and further education. Furthermore, increasing enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs for nursing is an initial step in addressing the existing and continuing shortage of nursing faculty.
A canvass was conducted of all institutions in the Metropolitan and Mid-Hudson Regions. There were no objections to the proposed program.
Recommendation
The Department has determined that the proposed nursing program meets the standards for registration as set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. It is recommended that the Board of Regents approve the amendment to the master plan of Concordia College authorizing the College to offer the Bachelor of Science degree program in Nursing. This amendment would be effective until September 30, 2009, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case the master plan amendment shall be without term.
Timetable for Implementation
If the Board of Regents approves the master plan amendment, the Department will register the program and the College will proceed to recruit and enroll program students.