10-16-2022 EDU - Flipbook - Page 5
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, October 16, 2022 5
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
SU’s Richard A. Henson Medical Simulation Center provides hands-on learning experiences for nursing students and other CHHS programs, serving the community and promoting lifelong learning.
Salisbury University is committed to health care
and human services needs
The expansion of SU’s College of Health and Human Services supports growing a workforce
S
ince dramatically restructuring academic programs four years ago to
create a new College of Health and
Human Services (CHHS), Salisbury
University has been supporting the
health care and social services needs of Maryland
and the nation more efficiently and effectively.
Recently, with state enhancement funding,
the CHHS has been expanding enrollments to
further meet growing needs for health-related
professionals.
“Our focus continues to be developing careerready students for professional practice and/or
advanced studies,” says Dr. Kelly Fiala, founding
dean. “Additional support from the state assists us
with achieving that goal and allows for program
expansion in areas of critical workforce need.”
Last year, SU’s School of Nursing was awarded
nearly $1 million from the Maryland Higher
Education Commission to address shortages of
nurses and nurse educators. The five-year grant
supports increased undergraduate enrollments
and a “fast track option” for the second-degree
program, allowing students to finish in 12 months
instead of 16. The first cohort began this fall.
“The students coming to the program want
options that allow them to enter workforce more
quickly, and our employers want the same,” says
Dr. Debra Webster, School of Nursing director.
The program offers shorter, more intensive
courses, as well as options like online and summer
classes. The goal is to accelerate students’ entry
into the workforce and reduce strain on health
care facilities struggling to keep up with demands
for qualified nurses.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with interest from students and local health
care organizations, Webster said.
SU’s School of Nursing has the highest pass
rate – and highest 10-year average pass rate – of
all four-year nursing programs in Maryland on
the National Council Licensure Examination for
Registered Nurses. Students agree that SU prepares them well for their careers.
“Salisbury has helped me find my place in this
world and find what I’m going to do to make a
difference,” says Sarah Kopycinski, a traditional
nursing student. “For us as nurses, changing the
world could just be making a patient smile. We’re
changing their world and that makes so much of
a difference. The compassionate care that [our
professors] taught us and the ability to have the
opportunity to make someone’s life better is very
special.”
Innovative
Curriculum
For Tomorrow
Salisbury University’s College of Health
and Human Services ensures students
get the most out of their education, while
also meeting the needs of employers.
“In addition to learning discipline-specific
technical skills, our students understand
other professions in order to collaborate
in future practice,” said Dr. Kelly Fiala,
founding dean.
SU students are ready to care for the
patients and clients of tomorrow.
Make Tomorrow Yours
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Go to salisbury.edu/visit
Salisbury University is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.
Second-degree nursing student Benjamin
Cvach adds: “With my previous experience in a
long-term care facility as a patient, the program
has helped me to see the patient from the side of
the nurse.”
In addition to traditional and second-degree
programs, the school also offers an M.S.N., RN
to B.S.N. and M.S.N. options, and a Doctor of
Nursing Practice.
All CHHS programs use evidence-based,
inter-professional and student-centered strategies
to develop culturally competent, ethically grounded practitioners with comprehensive professional
expertise.
The CHHS’ School of Health Sciences offers
bachelor’s degrees in exercise science, medical
laboratory science, public health and respiratory
therapy, as well as a master’s in health and human
performance. Three of the programs are offered
at the Universities at Shady Grove and University
System of Maryland at Hagerstown. A new health
science major also allows students to explore
options or design programs for specialized paths,
like medical, veterinary or dental school.
The most recent medical laboratory science
class achieved a 100% exam pass rate and employment rate upon graduation. Respiratory thera-
py students also have a 100% pass rate for the
National Board of Respiratory Care credentialing
examination.
The CHHS’ School of Social Work offers the
B.A.S.W. and M.S.W. on campus in Salisbury,
online and at four satellite locations across
Maryland. Students perform over 210,000 hours
of nonprofit and public agency community service annually. The school also recently launched
two new minors in deaf and disability studies, which prepare students across disciplines to
address diversity and inclusion needs in their
future careers.
“There is always a need for a greater understanding of people with differing abilities,” says
Dr. Ellen Schaefer-Salins, assistant professor of
social work.
Along with traditional coursework, all CHHS
majors complete clinical, field or internship experiences that merge knowledge obtainment and
application, and support the community. All
CHHS programs maintain external accreditation
and graduates are eligible to obtain licensure or
certification in their respective fields.
For more information, follow SU’s CHHS on
Facebook or visit salisbury.edu/chhs.