EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. Degree Type:

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Provide a narrative describing the program and concise summaries for Evaluation Criteria A-J of the proposal. Label section headings. (Limit 1200 words) In Section A of the Executive Summary, summarize all results of collaboration and outcomes with public and regionally accredited private postsecondary institutions in your region and nearby postsecondary institutions. In the Supplemental Materials, identify individuals or groups included in the discussions, including meeting minutes, notes on telephone conversations, and any other contacts regarding collaboration. Provide a reference relating to the information in the Supplemental Materials. Institution: Degree Type: Degree Title: Gulf Coast State College B.S. Nursing Gulf Coast State College proposes offering a 120-credit hour Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program. This program is designed as an RN to BSN program, building upon competencies developed in our existing A.S. in Nursing program. A. Planning Process Community and student interest in the BSN at GCSC has been extremely strong, to the extent that informal program development had been under way for at least two years prior to However, active development of the BSN was for some time precluded by the potential for Florida State University-Panama City to seek authorization for offering this program on their campus. When notification was received in January 2011 that FSU-PC would no longer pursue this option, work on BSN program development was undertaken in earnest (see Appendix E). Nursing faculty engaged in research on curriculum development in spring and early summer 2011, with the assistance of the college s offices of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Affairs. A program development committee composed of disciplinary faculty under the direction of the Associate VP for Academic Affairs was tasked with curriculum development, assisted by representatives from external health care agencies, and the services of an external consultant were engaged for guidance in the curriculum development process (see Appendix B). As well, the college engaged the Hanover Research Council for assistance with economic trend analysis and job growth forecasts (Appendices C and D). The college has communicated with the chief academic officers of all other colleges and universities within our service area (Pensacola State College, Northwest Florida State College, Chipola College and the University of West Florida) to confirm that the program proposal we were in the process of developing would not present a duplication of programming already offered by or in preparation at these institutions (see Appendix F). Support by local health care agencies, including those who provide clinical practice environments, has been overwhelmingly positive (see Appendix G). Support from local health care agencies and neighboring institutions has been re-confirmed recently: see the Addendum for letters of support as recent as February B. Program Implementation Timeline Formal needs assessment was completed January 2011 through June Program development was conducted throughout spring semester and into summer 2011, with the final draft of the curriculum outline submitted for institutional approval in June Application for extension of National League of Nursing (NLN) accreditation will continue through fall Some limited faculty recruitment will take place during fall and spring Student recruitment efforts will commence immediately upon receipt of SBOE 3

2 approval to offer the degree, with an estimated date upper division courses are to begin of August C. Workforce Demand/Unmet Need Specific to Program Area Florida s Agency for Workforce Innovation projects that there will be an annual average of 63 job openings for Registered Nurses in Workforce Region 4 through 2018; however, there are presently no institutions in this region that confer the B.S.N. degree. The Agency estimates that there were 1,473 Nursing jobs in the area in 2010, and projects that this will increase to 1,773 jobs by 2018 resulting in an overall rate increase of 2.3 percent annually. Additionally, the Florida Center for Nursing expects that, starting in 2014, healthcare reform and Florida s aging population will contribute to a rapid increase in demand for Registered Nurses. Among the population of Registered Nurses in particular, 25.8 percent of those employed in the Northwest Region held a B.S.N. degree as of January 2010, compared to 30.2 percent of Registered Nurses statewide. Conversely 62.7 percent of Registered Nurses in Northwest Florida held a diploma or associate s degree compared to 56.6 percent statewide. These figures suggest that within Northwest Florida, there is a sizeable population eligible for an R.N. to B.S.N. program and a relatively small proportion of current B.S.N.- holders (see Appendix I). Despite the economic downturn, recent employment projections for bachelor s-level nurses remain strong in our service area. See the Addendum for 2012 projections and updated analysis. D. Facilities and Equipment Specific to Program Area The BSN program will be housed in the George G. Tapper Health Science Building on the Panama City campus of Gulf Coast State College. This 58,694 square foot facility was completely renovated and expanded in 2009, in response to the growing demand for training in nursing, dental, and other health science fields. New classrooms incorporate state-of-theart teaching technology and communications systems, while nursing program labs reflect significant investments in clinical setting equipment and simulation technology. No additional facilities or equipment are anticipated at this time. E. Library/Media Specific to Program Area The Gulf Coast State College Library provides access to nursing resources through its 32,000-square-foot library facility as well as its 24/7 electronic access to online journal and e-book collections. Currently, the Library reserves a minimum of $3000 annually to purchase print materials in support of nursing programs. Additional online resources are allocated through statewide cooperative purchasing. Librarians work closely with the nursing program coordinators and faculty to select materials that support the current curriculum. Additional library resources will be acquired as needed (see Appendix J). F. Academic Resources Specific to Program Area With 14 current full-time and approximately part-time Nursing faculty, GCSC anticipates seeking additional faculty support through one full-time instructional position. In addition, with pending re-organization we will look to add a full-time Nursing program director with reduced teaching responsibilities to coordinate the LPN, RN and BSN programs. No additional support staff positions are anticipated at this time. G. Cost to Students The anticipated cost for four years of study at Gulf Coast State College is as follows: 2011/12 Tuition: $87.42/credit hour (upper division), $72.92/credit hour (lower division) 2011/12 Fees: $30.17/credit hour (upper division), $25.83/credit hour (lower division) (2011/12 Tuition + Fees) x 120 credit hours = $12,

3 H. Academic Content The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is an RN-to-BSN completion program that builds from associate in science degree coursework, allowing an RN with an associate s degree in nursing to earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. Admissions requirements include the completion of an associate s degree program or diploma program in nursing from an accredited school or college, documentation of current RN licensure with no restrictions, and documentation of a GPA of 2.50 or higher in all college credit courses and a C or higher in all prerequisite courses applicable to the RN to BSN program. As detailed below, the RN-to-BSN program requires completion of a total of 120 credit hours: 36 hours in General Education, 30 hours in A.S. degree Nursing core courses, 18 hours in common pre-requisite coursework, and 36 hours of upper-level Nursing core courses. The Addendum provides details as to proportions of face-to-face and distance-learning course delivery modalities. I. Enrollment, Performance and Budget Plan Program start-up expenditures are relatively limited given current institutional strengths in the discipline as well as in pre-requisite courses supporting the new curriculum. Current faculty personnel resources are largely adequate to initiate the first cycle of program course offerings, with one additional FTE faculty and a full-time program director dedicated to the program projected during that period, and projections of student enrollments are limited in the first two years. Equipment and facilities supporting the program are sufficient as well, having benefitted from significant recent funding through a $2 million U.S. Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training grant. Student tuition and fees will serve as the primary source of revenue for the proposed program. Rollover funding from baccalaureate funds appropriated through the Chancellor s office in 2010 will support initial start-up costs, limiting expenditures from community college program funds to $5,978 in the first year, as indicated in the attached Enrollment, Performance and Budget Plan. J. Plan of Action if Program must be Terminated Gulf Coast State College will pursue a standard approach to program phase-out, should that prove necessary. Students would be contacted individually, notified of pending program closure, and provided with an individualized teach-out plan to give them every opportunity to complete the program prior to its discontinuation. We would also insure that program closure would not occur prior to the end of the average time period needed for a continuous part-time student to complete program requirements. As well, GCSC would work closely with partner institutions to transition students into similar programs, if they so desire. 5

4 Baccalaureate Degree Program Proposal Recommendations from the Division of Florida Colleges Baccalaureate Review Team for Consideration by the Commissioner of Education A collaborative review was conducted by the Baccalaureate Review Team members, including staff from the Division of Florida Colleges and the Florida Colleges Budget Office. Written recommendations were submitted to the college by the Review Team, college staff revised the proposal, and submitted the final proposal, which is now complete and ready for consideration by the Commissioner of Education. Questions or concerns should be directed to Patricia Frohe at (850) or patricia.frohe@fldoe.org. College Degree Degree Program Date Submitted Type to SBOE Gulf Coast State College BS BS Nursing 03/27/12 No alternative proposals or letters of objection were received for this program. Within 45 days following receipt of a completed proposal by the Division of Florida Colleges, the Commissioner of Education shall recommend approval or disapproval of the proposal to the State Board of Education. Section (5)(e), F.S. Criteria Comments A Planning Process Gulf Coast State College s (GCSC) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will serve Workforce Region 4, which includes Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties. This Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN program will allow current RNs to increase their credentials in the field, thus increasing their prospects for professional advancement. As a natural route for GCSC students who have completed or are in the process of completing the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, the BSN will serve to complement and enhance the college s current offerings. While informal program development had been underway for over two years prior to the initial proposal submission in 2011, program planning was not undertaken in earnest until notification was received in January 2011 that Florida State University-Panama City (FSU-PC) would no longer pursue authorization to offer an RN to BSN program on their campus. A letter of support for the GCSC BSN from FSU-PC is located in Appendix E that confirms the collaborative relationship between the two institutions. A program development committee composed of disciplinary faculty, external healthcare agency representatives, and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs was tasked with developing the curriculum for the program, assisted by an external consultant. The Hanover Research Council was also engaged and conducted a student (Appendix C) and employer (Appendix D) demand analysis. GCSC reached out to the other regional postsecondary institutions, including the University of West Florida (UWF), Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC), Chipola College (CC), and Pensacola State College (PSC). correspondence from these institutions is located in Appendix F. While CC initially had concerns regarding the proposed program, GSCS states the two institutions have engaged in continued discussions, confirmed the differences 1

5 B C D E Program Implementation Timeline Workforce Demand/Unmet Need Specific to Program Area Facilities and Equipment Specific to Program Area Library/Media Specific to Program Area in their respective programs, and a letter of support from CC President Gene Prough is located in the proposal Addendum. In addition, Appendix G and the Addendum include letters of support from regional healthcare agencies. The projected implementation date of upper division enrollment is August 2012, which will provide the college with approximately five months to prepare. The complete timeline of implementation activities is located in Section B of the proposal. The college utilized Department of Economic Opportunity data (updated data for 2011 is provided in the Addendum) to determine workforce demand, and reported there were 1,473 RN jobs in Workforce Region 4 in 2010 and 1,510 jobs in 2011, and this number is projected to grow to 1,727 jobs by There were 63 job openings in 2010 and 52 openings in In the larger Florida Panhandle region, there were 11,125 total jobs and 379 job openings in 2011, with the number of total jobs expected to increase to 12,672 by There were no RN graduates in Region 4 in from the State University System (SUS) or any non-public institutions (no institutions in Region 4 confer the BSN degree). In the broader Florida Panhandle region, there were 382 graduates from the SUS [includes Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), FSU, and UWF], and again none from any non-public institutions. According to the Northwest Florida Status Report from the Florida Center for Nursing (FCN), located in Appendix I, only 25.8 percent of RNs in Northwest Florida held a BSN in 2010, compared to 30.2 percent statewide. Additionally, 62.7 percent of RNs in Northwest Florida held a diploma/associate s degree, versus 56.6 percent statewide. The college asserts that these numbers indicate a sizable population is eligible for an RN to BSN program in the region. The FCN also anticipates the demand for nurses in the state will increase rapidly, resulting in a statewide projected shortage of 50,000+ RNs by 2025 (Appendix H). GCSC acknowledges that while some positions may be filled by individuals with shorter-term degrees, they cite the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating that advancement opportunities may be more limited for those without a BSN degree. In addition, GCSC notes in the proposal Addendum that while nursing degree conferrals have increased rapidly in recent years and this will likely continue, employment figures indicate that the supply is still not going to meet the increasing demand. The Hanover Research student and employer surveys (Appendices C and D) indicate strong support for the implementation of a BSN program at GCSC. The college also included data showing that nursing graduates with higher degrees earn more on average than associate-level nurses. As stated previously, letters of support from regional healthcare agencies are included in Appendix G and the Addendum. The college does not anticipate the need for new facilities or equipment to support the BSN program. The Health Science Building will house the program and was renovated and expanded in The facility includes new classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology as well as nursing program labs with clinical setting equipment and simulation technology. GCSC currently reserves a minimum of $3,000 annually to purchase print materials to support nursing programs, and an additional $2,000 will be 2

6 F Academic Resources Specific to Program Area allocated annually in support of the BSN. Appendix J includes an inventory of the current health-related print and digital materials available at the library, as well as a list of new book selections the college plans to acquire to support the program. GCSC students also have access to FSU-PC library resources. GCSC currently has 14 full-time faculty members and (depending on the semester s course offerings) part-time faculty members. The college plans to hire one full-time instructional position and one full-time nursing program director. No additional instructional support staff is required. G Cost to Students Updated figures for tuition and fees are located in the proposal Addendum. The anticipated cost for four years of study at GCSC is $12, The cost would be $13,200 at CC, $15, at FAMU, $19,260 at FSU-PC and $23, at the FSU main campus, $13, at NWFSC, and $21, at UWF. The cost of four years of study at Baptist College of Florida is $36,399.60, at Flagler College it is $58,200, and at ITT Technical Institute it is $53,737. H I Academic Content Enrollment, Performance and Budget Plan This RN to BSN program builds upon ASN degree coursework, and program admission requires completion of an ASN or diploma program in nursing from an accredited school or college (students with a diploma in nursing will be evaluated on an individual basis). Applicants must also provide documentation of a current RN license with no restrictions and documentation of a Grade Point Average of 2.50 or higher in all college credit courses and a C or higher in all prerequisite courses. The BSN will be composed of 120 credit hours, including the 27 credit hours of prerequisite coursework that is required in CIP , Track 2. At least 25 percent of upper division courses will be taught by faculty with terminal degrees. The hiring of new terminally-degreed faculty and the fact that four current full-time nursing faculty are near completion of their doctorates will serve to increase this percentage. The anticipated student/teacher ratio is 25:1 and the curriculum plan for the program is located on page 16. The projected percentage of online versus face-to-face delivery for all courses is outlined on page 5 of the Addendum. The college will notify the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) of the addition of this program upon State Board of Education approval. In addition, GCSC will seek candidacy for BSN program accreditation from the National League for Nursing (NLN). This program is competitive and will be designated as Limited Access (admission preference will be given to residents of Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties). The Limited Access request form is located in Appendix N. Enrollment in the BSN program is projected to be 25 students for each year from to Projected program expenditures increase from $143,555 in to $224,123 in Additional budget information is included on the updated Enrollment, Performance and Budget Plan form on page 11 of the Addendum. Student tuition and fees will be the primary source of revenue for the program, as well as remaining rollover Community College Program Funds. In addition, the college s unrestricted fund balance will provide future 3

7 J Plan of Action if Program Must be Terminated support, if needed. The college will also pursue grant funding for programmatic support. Should program termination be necessary, faculty and staff will have time to prepare for program phase-out. Students would be contacted immediately and individually and provided with an individualized teach-out plan to complete the program. Program closure would not occur for a minimum of six semesters, allowing part-time students the time needed to complete the program. The college would also work with partner institutions to transition students into similar programs if they so desire. GCSC will comply with all SACS-COC guidelines regarding program closure. Comments: GCSC has adequately demonstrated the need for the degree and providing convincing support from regional postsecondary institutions and businesses. The timeline is short and I strongly recommend that GCSC obtain candidacy from the National League of Nursing prior to the first graduating cohort. It is also important to inform incoming students of the status of NLN accreditation. There are currently 14 approved BSN programs offered in the Florida College System. I recommend limited access status be granted for this program. Recommendation: Approve Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Division of Florida Colleges Date 3/1/12 Recommendation: Approve Chancellor, Division of Florida Colleges Date 3/4/12 4