ASU approves new health science college

Appalachian State University will be renewing its efforts to alleviate a statewide health care shortage. Students studying health-related professions will soon have a college all their own.

The UNC-system Board of Governors approved last week a proposal five years in the making that will create a new College of Health Sciences and Allied Professions. It will combine departments previously spread out across the university's curriculum.

Stan Aeschleman ASU provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs" said he hopes the college will increase the number of health professionals graduating in North Carolina.

The state has been challenged in recent years by a shortage of health care professionals.

""The college accommodates new health care programs and will give us the type of visibility and interest to better enable us to meet the needs of the state"" he said.

Combining the departments will provide a more efficient advising and academic environment and provide more opportunities for students interested in health care, Aeschleman said.

The departments of health, leisure and exercise science; nursing; social work; foods and nutrition; communication disorders and health management will be included in the college. Together these departments graduated 308 students in the 2007-08 academic year.

On top of $4.2 million allotted for planning costs, an additional $1 million is needed to pay for a dean and administration and approximately $50 million is needed to build a facility in the future, Aeschleman said.

David Mofford, ASU student body president, said the new college will be a great attraction for potential health care students.

We're creating new programs and consolidating" he said. That is only a positive thing. Hopefully" it will bring in new students who are excited to be here.""

James Deal" chairman of the ASU Board of Trustees said that despite the high costs" the change  is necessary to address the needs of North Carolinians.

""It is going to train more people to fill those empty slots and get the quality of treatment we would want them all to have"" he said.

Discussions began about five years ago, when people began realizing the growing need for medical professionals, particularly nurses, in western North Carolina, Deal said. By 2011, there will be faculty in place and by 2012 there will be a building to house the departments.

Paul Gaskill, the chairman of the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science, said the investment will enable medical personnel to keep health care costs down while improving quality.

The cost of development is small compared to potential benefits over time"" Gaskill said. There is a huge job market in health-related fields. A higher quality labor force will have a positive economic effect.""



Contact the State & National Desk at stntdesk@unc.edu.