SUNY Empire State College was awarded
\n$400,000 to develop a Bachelor of Science degree
\nprogram in health science, a new program that
\nwill contribute to achieving SUNY’s system-wide
\ncompletion agenda of awarding 150,000 degrees
\neach year by 2020, officials said.<\/p>\n
Modeled after the college’s successful RN-to -B.S.
\nin Nursing program, SUNY Empire’s new bachelor’s
\ndegree will provide a clear, direct and efficient path
\nfor radiologic technicians, emergency medical technicians,
\ndental hygienists, physical therapy assistants
\nand many others who have earned an associate and
\nwant to complete their bachelor’s degree, according
\nto the college.<\/p>\n
“The B.S. in health science is the latest example
\nof SUNY Empire’s dedicated faculty and staff using
\ninnovative, alternative and flexible approaches
\nto higher education that transform people and
\ncommunities through rigorous programs that connect
\nindividuals’ unique and diverse lives to their
\npersonal learning goals,” said Associate Professor
\nKim Stote, who was a member of the team that developed
\nthe successful proposal. “The B.S. in health
\nscience is designed to promote seamless academic
\nprogression for students moving from the associate
\nto completion of a bachelor’s degree.”<\/p>\n
Graduates of this program can become directcare
\nproviders, managers, educators or individuals
\nfocused on state-population health issues.<\/p>\n
\n"The program will also take advantage of the
\ncollege's partnerships with SUNY's community
\ncolleges and several hospitals and health-care organizations
\nthroughout the state," said Merodie A.
\nHancock, president of the college. "Having this new
\nbachelor's degree in place will mean more and better
\njob prospects for people working in health care,
\nand their families, across the state. Better-educated
\nemployees, in turn, will mean improved health care
\nfor New Yorkers."<\/p>\n
The college's School of Nursing already has
\narticulation agreements with 26 of SUNY's 30
\ncommunity colleges. Part of the new program calls
\nfor the college to work with its current community
\ncollege partners to extend the agreements to include
\nhealth sciences.<\/p>\n
Officials said the college will leverage other
\nexisting partnerships which currently provide a path
\nto degree completion for radiologic technicians,
\nincluding at Catholic Health System on Long Island,
\nGlens Falls Hospital, Hudson Mohawk Health Education
\nCenter in Glens Falls, New York Methodist
\nHospital in Brooklyn, Peconic Bay Medical Center
\nRadiology in Riverhead, Saratoga Hospital in
\nSaratoga Springs and Champlain Valley Radiology,
\nin order to begin the process of scaling up the new
\nprogram across the state.<\/p>\n
Resources for SUNY Empire's new program
\ncome from the SUNY system's newly established Investment
\nand Performance Fund and were awarded
\nthrough a competitive, system-wide process.<\/p>\n
The college's proposal was one of 32 selected
\nfor funding.<\/p>\n
According to the state Department of Labor:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The fastest growing occupations in New York
\nstate are health-care related; these include physical
\ntherapists and physical therapist assistants, diagnostic
\nmedical sonographers, health educators and
\ndental hygienists.<\/p>\n
\u2022 More than 3 million jobs in health care are
\nforecast to be created in the period from 2010- 2018,
\nresulting largely from the aging of the population.<\/p>\n
\u2022 From February 2013 to February 2014 in the
\nstate of New York, there was an increase of more
\nthan 40,000 jobs in the health-care and educational
\nsectors.<\/p>\n
The college's health science degree is designed as
\nan upper-level bachelor's degree completion program
\nand begins in the third year of a student's studies,
\nafter the completion of the associate's degree.<\/p>\n
"The health science program is designed to
\ncreate learning environments that promote critical
\nthinking, social responsibility and lifelong learning,"
\nsaid Stote.<\/p>\n
She said students will be able to complete their
\ndegree online, in small groups and through guided
\nindependent study. Students learning on a full-time
\nbasis can expect to complete the college's program
\nin two years.<\/p>\n
The college anticipates enrolling students in the
\nnew program beginning in the fall of 2017.<\/p>\n