In This Issue:

• Online Nursing Program Attractive Option for Registered Nurses
• NSU Expands CALL Opportunities for Adult Learners

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Online Nursing Program Attractive Option for Registered Nurses

HAMMOND – With nearly 80 students now enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University’s on-line nursing degree program, university officials say the accelerated program appears to be filling a need in helping registered nurses obtain their bachelor’s degree. In only its second year, the RN to BS degree is attracting students not just from Louisiana but from other nearby states as well, said Jean Urick, who coordinates the program at Southeastern. The school started offering the program last year as part of a statewide special initiative known as CALL – or Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana. Sponsored by the Louisiana Board of Regents, the program targets adults who have completed some college and received credits but not a baccalaureate degree. Southeastern’s program allows registered nurses who hold diplomas or associate degrees the chance to earn a bachelor of science degree completely on-line. “There are thousands of registered nurses in Louisiana, many working full time with families and other responsibilities,” Urick said. “This program gives them the flexibility to take accelerated courses at their own pace without having to come to a campus and sit in a classroom. And they still get one-on-one attention from the faculty.” Although they are offered on-line, the courses are no less rigorous than those offered in a classroom, she said, demanding discipline and time management to complete the course work. In addition, the state-funded program is considerably less expensive than similar ones offered at private or proprietary schools. “In many healthcare settings, a bachelor’s degree is essential in order to advance in the profession or move into more managerial positions,” Urick explained. “CALL is helping those nurses advance professionally according to their own time schedules. It has become a very attractive option for registered nurses seeking to advance their education.”

For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.

NSU Expands CALL Opportunities for Adult Learners

Natchitoches – Northwestern State University has received approval from the State Board of Regents to expand its offerings in the Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana (CALL). Northwestern will offer the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) through CALL beginning this fall. A Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse will be available in the spring 2011 semester. NSU will also be a partner in a collaborative effort by University of Louisiana System to offer a Bachelor of Science in Business. All eight UL System institutions will be involved in the initiative. “The degree programs to be offered by Northwestern were proposed based on their alignment with top demand and fastest growing occupations as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission,” said Northwestern Vice President for Technology, Research and Economic Development Dr. Darlene Williams. “We are very pleased that all four of Northwestern’s proposals were recommended. The additional program offerings will provide even greater opportunity for adults to complete a bachelor’s degree.” CALL, is a joint initiative between the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana aimed at making it easier for Louisiana adults without a college degree to enroll at a Louisiana public college or university and earn a degree or other college credential. CALL aims to expand adult participation in postsecondary education by: better understanding the needs of adult learners in Louisiana; establishing innovative programming to respond to those needs; aggressively promoting adult learning services and programming and creating convenient pathways to postsecondary certificates and degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies is designed to provide more extensive training for addiction counselors and prevention specialists. The program was the first of its kind in the state and goes beyond many existing curriculums which focus on alcoholism and drug abuse. The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism provides a program of study that prepares students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds for varied careers in journalism and mass communications or for advanced studies. Built on a broad liberal arts tradition, the program incorporates the values, ethics and attitudes associated with professional standards of mass media. The RN to BSN program offers an individualized plan for learning to assist registered nurses who would like to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. The purpose of the program is to train students to become: a provider of direct and indirect care to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations, a designer, manager and coordinator of care and a member of a profession. For more information on CALL, go to http://www.yourcallla.org.