The Effect of Expanding Nursing Programs

Spring
2008
Resolution Number
21.01
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Career Technical Education
Status
Completed
Status Report

Budgetary discussions with the Governor’s Office precluded providing this perspective on the expansion of nursing programs. Concerns have been expressed in discussions within the System.

Whereas, As the foremost sources of training for nurses in California, the California community colleges responded to the severe nursing shortage by increasing the number of students accepted into nursing programs statewide;

Whereas, The System Office and the Governor have funded this effort recently with specialized grants that allow for a specific increase in nursing student admissions; and

Whereas, New grant requirements mandate additional expansion of student admissions without adequate consideration of the impact upon course delivery, the subsequent choices to select the most effective instructional methodologies, and the availability of quality clinical experiences needed to achieve a quality outcome and student success-all of which are under the purview of Title 5 53200 (10+1);

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the System Office to evaluate data from the California community college nursing programs on the impact on program and curricular quality as a result of this rapid expansion and on the outcomes and issues relevant to quality program expansion; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with the System Office and the Governor's Office to discuss options for expanding nursing programs only after a careful exploration of the impact on course delivery, instruction, clinical experiences, and existing local nursing program clinical placements. MSC Disposition: System Office, Local Senates