- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock/CHI St. Vincent Pathway Program to address nursing shortage

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 18 May 2017 17:13:46 +0000

CHI St. Vincent and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock joined forces today to address the nursing shortage in Arkansas. Leaders at the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding for a three-year initiative — the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock/CHI St. Vincent Pathway Program — to expand student capacity in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Nursing and to fill the nursing staffing needs at . Under the agreement, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will recruit and educate an average of 40 students per year for the Pathway Program in an 18-month accelerated associate of applied science degree program. After completing the program, students will be prepared to obtain their RN licensure and begin a career at CHI St. Vincent. “Quality nurses are a cornerstone of our ministry at CHI St. Vincent, and this partnership with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will ensure that we can continue to provide the community and our patients with excellent and compassionate care for years to come,” CHI St. Vincent CEO Chad Aduddell said. “Health care providers across the country are looking for ways to tackle this critical nursing shortage, and we see this investment in education as an important step toward preparing motivated students for an honorable and worthwhile profession in nursing.” There’s a shortage of 700 nurses in central Arkansas alone, Aduddell said. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said the collaboration with CHI St. Vincent is an excellent example of the symbiotic role between a metropolitan university and its community. “Our pledge to central Arkansas and the entire state is to help address and solve the challenges our businesses and organizations face through educational opportunities,” he said. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock has collaborated with CHI St. Vincent for more than 50 years to educate nurses in central Arkansas. This newest initiative is yet another strategy to give more Arkansas students a pathway to a quality health education and to create a pipeline to a career beginning at a world-class health system.” CHI St. Vincent will assist with financial support for hiring additional faculty and staff to create a greater capacity for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to admit more students. “The current shortage of nursing and faculty is projected to increase, and we are working to change this situation today,” Aduddell said. The first step is to increase capacity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with additional faculty. Additionally, to increase affordable access to a nursing degree, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and CHI St. Vincent will award $2,500 per-semester to each Pathway Program student, which will cover the cost of the accelerated program. Pathway program graduates will join the nursing staff at CHI St. Vincent for a minimum of 24 months. The first 40 students will enter the Pathway Program this fall. “This agreement is like the trifecta,” Rogerson said. “First and foremost, it’s a win for Arkansans in need of quality patient care. It’s also a win for increasing student capacity at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and patient capacity at CHI St. Vincent, plus a win for students seeking a rewarding career in a high-demand field.” The program comes at a time when the vacancy rate for RNs continues to rise across the state and nation. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly half of the RNs in the country will reach traditional retirement age by 2020. At the same time, the demand for healthcare is expected to rise rapidly between now and 2024 as baby boomers are aging and living longer. The demand for nurses is expected to grow by 16 percent, while higher education programs are having difficulty recruiting enough faculty and staff to meet the educational demands. Photo: Chancellor Andrew Rogerson discusses the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock/CHI St. Vincent Pathway Program, which is designed to address the nursing shortage in Arkansas. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

��Vlog��ý Little Rock launches program with Easterseals Arkansas

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 18:01:40 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and recently joined forces to launch a post-secondary education program on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through the ��Vlog��ý, Community, Career Development, and Employment program, participants will explore work options and learn skills to help them land a future job. About 10 students in the one-year, two-semester certification program will gain academic and social opportunities as they meet on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus — experiencing college as they prepare for the competitive job market. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock marked the program’s first day Monday, Jan. 30, with a reception for participants and their families. The event was hosted by the College of Education and Health Professions, which is a partner in the one-year initiative.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock and Easterseals Arkansas staff and family members pose with participants of a new program designed to prepare people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the workforce. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

The program teaches independent life skills, including wellness, time management, and personal finance. Students also will learn about community resources such as public transportation and housing that affect their ability to work. Participating students will have the opportunity for internships that provide on-the-job experience, career exploration, and a chance to build core employment skills. For more than 70 years, Easterseals Arkansas has been a resource for people with disabilities and their families. Its mission is to provide exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

��Vlog��ýLR, Little Rock high schools announce Trojan Pathway partnership

Shanna Fitzgerald — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 22:05:46 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Little Rock School District announced Trojan Pathway — a collaboration to make higher education more affordable and accessible. The Trojan Pathway agreement between ��Vlog��ýLR and the five Little Rock School District high schools — Central, Hall, J.A. Fair, McClellan, and Parkview — sets a clear, affordable direction for students to enter the university and opens up resources to guide them through the process. “Students need the opportunity to have a higher education,” said ��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor Dr. Andrew Rogerson, who developed the concept for the program. “Trojan Pathway is just opening their eyes to the possibility.” Through the collaboration, students in the classes of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 and their parents can sign a non-binding agreement that guarantees the student a spot at the university as long as the student:

Satisfies admissions criteria
Submits a complete application
Makes acceptable financial arrangements

“We are grateful for the wonderful partnership with ��Vlog��ýLR and for what this opportunity will mean for our students,” said LRSD Superintendent Mike Poore. “If our goal is to prepare students for college and career, we must be intentional in our approach to provide them with the kind of support they need to be successful. This is definitely a great step in that direction.” Trojan Pathway, similar to the recently announced Jacksonville Promise, is the latest in ��Vlog��ýLR’s strategy of addressing the issues of affordability and accessibility in higher education. In a matter of weeks, more than 70 Jacksonville parents and students signed the contract to participate in the pilot program. Both programs focus on highlighting an affordable pathway to higher education for students and their parents — especially those who might not have previously considered college a realistic option. While signing a contract through the Trojan Pathway program doesn’t commit a student to attend the university, it does provide access to university advisers who can help with the admission and financial aid processes. Advisers also can discuss the potential for early degree completion — and the resulting cost savings that can occur — through the university’s concurrent enrollment program.

Little Rock School District Superintendent Michael Poore, left, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson listen as ��Vlog��ýLR Student Government Association President Connor Donovan relates his student experience during an announcement of Trojan Pathway, a new partnership to benefit Little Rock high school students. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications

For central Arkansas to succeed, ��Vlog��ýLR needs to produce job-ready college graduates, and for most students, a higher education is a critical component of their future career success, Rogerson said. The importance of a college education continues to increase. About 99 percent of the 11.6 million jobs added in the U.S. since the 2008 recession went to workers who had completed at least some college, according to a from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. At the same time, about 70 percent of U.S. college students graduate with debt, and in 2015, that average debt was more than $30,000, according to The Institute for College Access and Success. Attending a local university or college is one way central Arkansas students can cut costs. In an effort to make higher education even more affordable, ��Vlog��ýLR recently relaxed its requirement that many freshmen live on campus during their first year. Advisers won’t only direct students to ��Vlog��ýLR, Rogerson said. If, for example, Pulaski Technical College is a better fit for the student’s plans, advisers will help send him or her in that direction. While Trojan Pathway has the potential to assist all Little Rock high school students, Rogerson said, those with multiple years of high school remaining could reap the maximum benefit, as they will have the most time to focus on college-readiness. “This is something that will bear fruit in the future,” Rogerson said.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock/CHI St. Vincent Pathway Program to address nursing shortage

����Vlog��ý Little Rock launches program with Easterseals Arkansas

����Vlog��ýLR, Little Rock high schools announce Trojan Pathway partnership

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock/CHI St. Vincent Pathway Program to address nursing shortage

��Vlog��ý Little Rock launches program with Easterseals Arkansas

��Vlog��ýLR, Little Rock high schools announce Trojan Pathway partnership