Resuscitated
In HSU’s budget emergency room, administrators jolt the nursing program back to life
(April 29, 2010) “We did it!” That was the message on the “Save the HSU Nursing Program” Facebook page, and it was a sentiment that spread rapidly throughout the department Tuesday morning after President Rollin Richmond announced that nursing had indeed been granted a pardon.
“It’s great news, and we’re really excited,” nursing senior Randee Litten said. “That’s pretty much all we’ve been talking about.”
The school’s baccalaureate nursing program has drawn widespread support from the local community and beyond since it was recommended for elimination earlier this month by HSU’s Academic Senate (“Critical Condition,” Apr. 15). The faculty government organization had been tasked with finding a way to save $1.3 million in curriculum costs. In making its recommendation, the Senate cited the nursing program’s hefty price tag ($867,200 per year) as well as nagging difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified faculty. Conversely, given the nationwide nursing shortage, community members, public officials and health care professionals expressed concern and even outrage at the prospect of eliminating the department.
Now those same people are rejoicing. “We think the nursing program is a wise investment, both in the health and economic welfare of the North Coast,” said Phil Crandall, director of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. “We appreciate HSU’s decision to maintain this valuable service.”
The program elimination process was undertaken following $560 million in state funding cuts to the CSU system, including $12 million from HSU’s general fund. In a phone conversation Tuesday morning, HSU Provost Robert Snyder, who largely guided this process and whose recommendations were followed to the letter by President Richmond, said he appreciated the support voiced by the community but that it was not the deciding factor. “What was key,” Snyder said, “were the community partners, and [those] at the state level — people coming forward saying we could work cooperatively on how to resolve the problems facing nursing.”
The program did not emerge unscathed. As part of a restructuring plan, the number of students admitted per year will be reduced from 60 to 40. And Snyder said that in order for the program to prove viable, it must secure more grant funding and improve its partnerships with state and local health care agencies. It also needs to collaborate better with College of the Redwoods, he said. The community college offers an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), but many students continue on to HSU for their bachelor’s (BSN), which is a requirement for many health care positions. The two schools’ curricula should be better coordinated, Snyder said.
The department’s faculty troubles may prove more difficult to resolve. Of the six tenure-line faculty hired in recent years, only two remain. Meanwhile, three faculty members are near retirement (two won’t continue past this year), and just one tenured faculty member has the required doctorate degree. (Two tenure-track faculty members are pursuing their Ph.Ds but haven’t finished.) In an earlier interview, nursing faculty member Pat Farmer said these challenges don’t necessarily reflect poorly on the department. “The turnover is reflective of a well-acknowledged national shortage of qualified nursing faculty,” Farmer said. This stems not only from the broader nursing shortage but from simple economics, she added. “Pay in the university system is only about two-thirds of [what’s offered in] the private sector.”
In his recommendation to President Richmond, Snyder said that were it not for the public outcry along with “a commitment on behalf of the department, College of the Redwoods, community health-care partners and state agencies to work together,” he would have agreed with the Academic Senate and suggested axing the department. As it is, the program’s future remains provisional. Snyder said that if the department cannot quickly develop a plan with specific goals and benchmarks, he’ll recommend suspending admissions for spring semester. “They need to get on this,” he warned.
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44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
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Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
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Lanphere Dunes Restoration
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THREE Comments
Comment / By Steve / April 29, 10:03 a.m.
Just the latest manifestation of the bigger and more intractable problem of adequately funding the CSU:
We have a strong tradition of low-cost access to higher education in California, so much so that it is codified that there is no “tuition” charged to in-state students, only “fees” (that currently sum to $5,166 for a full-time HSU student).
Yet in practice we elect legislators who place a low budget priority on the CSU. Higher education’s share of the California general fund budget has been approximately cut nearly in half over the last 25 years. Pension costs and “corrections” are squeezing the CSU out of the budget, as it is not protected with a share of the state general fund like k-12.
CSU fees have increased sharply, but are still the lowest among its comparison institutions. Our collective sense in California that the CSU should be accessible works against charging fees that can sustain the system. Yet we are also not willing to extend the amount of general fund support to sustain the system.
So we cut, cut, cut, and cut some more. Now we are left with cutting academic programs. The university identifies nursing, one of the most costly and struggling programs, to cut. The public rises up and pressures the administration to save nursing. A valued program is saved, and people celebrate.
Yet the problem with funding the CSU doesn’t go away. The evidence suggests we are not up to the task of doing any of the painful actions required to sustain the CSU.
Comment / By Jonathan / April 29, 12:29 p.m.
Steve, you sound like you could teach economics up at Humboldt.
One question I have would be what are the auxillary costs outlayed in the form of mandatory union raises and more importantly pension contracts for those is a support role to the student.
Do you have any data on that?
Comment / By Mark / April 29, 2:54 p.m.
Maybe they should concentrate on changing their admitting criteria. Its hard to understand why someone with medical expertise and competed educational endeavors are denied acceptance to HSU BSN program, while others are admitted because they have a 3.89 GPA, but don’t know a thing regarding commitment.