The new Bachelor of Science degree in nursing was approved by the Board of Regents earlier in the day. The program comes with a change in the college mission, officially making GHC a state college. The students who enter the nursing program in the fall will have the option of earning the bachelor’s program, which means GHC could award its first four-year degree in the spring of 2014.
Pierce said the announcement from the Board of Regents is a game-changer for GHC.
“The nursing program at GHC has always been very competitive,” he said. “Only one of every three qualified applicants is accepted into the program. That won’t change. But the convenience of being able to complete a baccalaureate-level degree at an institution with our reputation for excellence is a real bonus for students and our community.”
Because of the status change, Georgia Highlands could officially change the name of the college to Georgia Highlands State College, but officials said they won’t pursue that switch at this time. Still, that additional word could be added in the near future.
“I kind of like the sound of it,” said Pierce.
The changes and the new program are the result of a year-old feasibility study during which students, business officials, and educational and community leaders where interviewed. One of the most cited needs for four-year programs, said Pierce, was cost. Floyd County has two private four-year institutions, but tuition at those colleges range from $17,500 to $25,890, which makes GHC’s $2,000 rate attractive, he said.
Officials will soon begin searching for candidates to fill a new dean of health science position, as well as two additional nursing instructor jobs.
Pierce said the addition of baccalaureate programs has been a long time coming. He said he was sitting in his office 10 years ago, having just found he was chosen as the new president of the college, when Al Hodge, executive director of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, called to ask about his plan for four-year programs.
Pierce finally followed up on that call.
“I told him the other day, ‘Al, I’m slow, it took me 10 years, but we are a four-year institution,” he said.
Additional four-year programs could be established in the future, with early childhood education, middle grades math and science education, business and criminal justice being listed as likely programs.
Read more: RN-T.com – Update GHC now a state college adding bachelor’s of science in nursing
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