For those attending the school: http://www.pjstar.com/news/tricounty/x1799252713/Methodist-nursing-college-sees-changes
About 500 students are expected to fill the halls of the Methodist College of Nursing when the academic year begins Aug. 23.
While this is the largest enrollment in the history of the college, it was anticipated. That is why the college carried out a $600,000 renovation of its campus. The public is invited to an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at 415 St. Mark Court to view the upgrades to student housing and administrative offices.
The large enrollment is because of a number of factors, said Dr. Kimberly Johnston, president of the nursing college, the most important being the program was revamped with the addition of a prelicensure bachelor's degree. Before, it was called a prelicensure completion.
Up until now, the college has had a traditional prelicensure requirement where students would complete the general education courses at some other university. They then would transfer to the nursing college as juniors and were awarded a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree upon completion.
"Preloading the (general education) and then doing nothing but nursing hampers our ability to integrate the gen ed into the nursing course," Johnston said. "When they begin, they do more general ed courses, but they also start nursing in the freshmen year, so if nursing is not the career for them, they haven't wasted time and money on it."
With the new year, freshmen will take their general education courses at the college while also beginning their nursing course work.
"The only school that has the four-year program in the local area is at Bradley University, which may be a little costly," Johnston said. "Our affiliation with Methodist Medical Center allows our students to have prime clinical time and state-of-the-art resources."
Another change is that the nursing school has contracted with Illinois Central College to teach general education courses at the nursing school's campus.
"So we have also added faculty," she said. "Now we have students who are 17 and 18 attending and so we have hired a live-in residence life coordinator for the students."
Previously, the average age of the students was closer to 30.
The college also has been working with the state to provide incentives to ease the nursing shortage, as well as to meet the needs of the aging population.
"Many of our nurses are also expected to retire in the next eight to 10 years, so it's a double whammy," Johnston said.
Expecting a flood of new students, the college remodeled the entire floor of rooms to accommodate 93 residential students. The in-house store also will be selling food in addition to school supplies and college gear.
"We moved administration to a new floor and remodeled it," Johnston said. "We're revamping safety and security, with cameras, lighting and emergency phones outside."
This fall, 151 new students will be in the new program while others will continue under the old one, which will be phased out. The college also has added another tier for those who have another degree but decided to go into nursing.
"They may be working at other jobs, but are coming to our classes in the evenings and weekends, although we highly recommend if they can, to do this program full time," Johnston said.
About 500 students are expected to fill the halls of the Methodist College of Nursing when the academic year begins Aug. 23.
While this is the largest enrollment in the history of the college, it was anticipated. That is why the college carried out a $600,000 renovation of its campus. The public is invited to an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at 415 St. Mark Court to view the upgrades to student housing and administrative offices.
The large enrollment is because of a number of factors, said Dr. Kimberly Johnston, president of the nursing college, the most important being the program was revamped with the addition of a prelicensure bachelor's degree. Before, it was called a prelicensure completion.
Up until now, the college has had a traditional prelicensure requirement where students would complete the general education courses at some other university. They then would transfer to the nursing college as juniors and were awarded a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree upon completion.
"Preloading the (general education) and then doing nothing but nursing hampers our ability to integrate the gen ed into the nursing course," Johnston said. "When they begin, they do more general ed courses, but they also start nursing in the freshmen year, so if nursing is not the career for them, they haven't wasted time and money on it."
With the new year, freshmen will take their general education courses at the college while also beginning their nursing course work.
"The only school that has the four-year program in the local area is at Bradley University, which may be a little costly," Johnston said. "Our affiliation with Methodist Medical Center allows our students to have prime clinical time and state-of-the-art resources."
Another change is that the nursing school has contracted with Illinois Central College to teach general education courses at the nursing school's campus.
"So we have also added faculty," she said. "Now we have students who are 17 and 18 attending and so we have hired a live-in residence life coordinator for the students."
Previously, the average age of the students was closer to 30.
The college also has been working with the state to provide incentives to ease the nursing shortage, as well as to meet the needs of the aging population.
"Many of our nurses are also expected to retire in the next eight to 10 years, so it's a double whammy," Johnston said.
Expecting a flood of new students, the college remodeled the entire floor of rooms to accommodate 93 residential students. The in-house store also will be selling food in addition to school supplies and college gear.
"We moved administration to a new floor and remodeled it," Johnston said. "We're revamping safety and security, with cameras, lighting and emergency phones outside."
This fall, 151 new students will be in the new program while others will continue under the old one, which will be phased out. The college also has added another tier for those who have another degree but decided to go into nursing.
"They may be working at other jobs, but are coming to our classes in the evenings and weekends, although we highly recommend if they can, to do this program full time," Johnston said.