When Appalachian State University officially opened its College of Health Sciences on July 1, ?the school was fulfilling a vision tauted by the UNC system long before the economic downturn limited the potential for growth.
With its four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree accredited last week, Appalachian State accepted 20 nursing students for its first class, launching a program that will benefit the state in the long run.
In 2007, UNC-system President Erskine Bowles launched UNC Tomorrow, a strategy for how system schools could meet the state’s needs in the next two decades, ranging from health care to sustainability.
“One of the priorities in that strategic plan is to train health professionals and actively address the health and wellness needs in not only the region but in North Carolina as well,” said Fred Whitt, dean of the newly founded college.
The college is still awaiting its home. Its programs, ranging from the four-year nursing degree to speech pathology, are located in eight buildings across campus.
“By pulling all these programs together, (it) will certainly help us maximize our dollars and leverage our resources ansd give these programs a home,” Whitt said.
“And when the economy does turn around, we’ll be poised to add new programs; physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse practioner. We’re looking at growing down the road.”
According to the N.C. Health Professions Data System, there were only 374 registered nurses in the whole of Watauga County where Appalachian State is located. Training health care professionals locally will benefit both students and the region’s health care system.
The Appalachian Regional Healthcare System has been working with the university, providing internships and courting future employees.
