Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Community college seeks 4-year status
Community college seeks 4-year status
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/treasurecoast/sfl-pircc26dec26,0,661438.story
By Charlie Reed
The Stuart News
Posted December 26 2006
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/treasurecoast/sfl-pircc26dec26,0,661438.story
Indian River asks state for OK
By Charlie Reed
The Stuart News
Posted December 26 2006
| Indian River Community College might be ready to drop "Community" from its name in 2007. That's if the state Board of Education approves the college's bid in February to offer four-year degrees. If approved, IRCC would begin offering bachelor's degrees in education, nursing and organizational management next fall. "We're ready to move on this as soon as possible if we get the green light," said IRCC President Ed Massey. "With statewide teacher and nurse shortages and a growing need for management degrees among public safety and health-care professionals, the new programs could go a long way toward shoring up the Treasure Coast's workforce," Massey said. "We feel like were in a pretty good position [for approval]," he said "We're responding to residents and employers and helping meet the needs of our community and the workforce. We've had banks, school districts and local companies asking us to do this for years." IRCC students also have endorsed the plan. "We're really excited," said Rebekah Thompson, president of IRCC student government. "Students are asking me about it every day." IRCC would charge about $75 per credit hour compared to an average $108 per credit hour at Florida's public universities. "It doesn't matter if you go to Harvard or IRCC," Thompson said. "As long as you have a degree." Six of the state's 28 community colleges have begun awarding bachelor's degrees since Florida lawmakers approved the concept in 1999. Thirteen of the 30 degrees offered are non-traditional bachelor of applied science programs geared for community college graduates, with associate of science degrees, which typically do not transfer into four-year degree programs. Associate of arts degrees can be transferred to four-year institutions. With specializations in public safety administration and health care management, the organizational management degree IRCC wants to offer falls into the bachelor of applied science degree category. "It gives a world of advancement opportunities for people who would have to start from scratch again," Massey said. |
