August 30, 2016
This fall semester, Ursuline College is launching new programs of study in nursing, education and pre-law and students are now working with state-of-the-art new equipment in science and fashion.
“Ursuline continues to be an innovator in education,” said Sister Christine De Vinne, O.S.U., Ph.D., president of the College. “Our new academic programs in nursing and education both respond to very real needs in our society. Our new partnership with the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law will help students save time and tuition as they prepare to become lawyers. Our new equipment, made possible by generous donors, ensures that students graduate familiar with the industry-standard tools they will use in their careers. It’s all good news.”
Here is an overview of the College's newest additions.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program
Ursuline’s Breen School of Nursing added this MSN (master of science degree in nursing) program this fall in order to meet the need for advanced practice nurses to care for people with unstable chronic conditions, complex acute illnesses, and critical illnesses. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners work in a variety of in-patient settings such as long-term acute care facilities, internal medicine or general surgery practice settings, as well as a wide range of acute care sub-specialties (cardiology, neurosurgery, interventional radiology, etc.).
“With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the demand is growing for advanced practice registered nurses who are educated to diagnose and treat acute illness and chronic conditions,” said Patricia A. Sharpnack, DNP, dean of the Breen School of Nursing.
According to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner’s educational preparation focuses on restorative care that is characterized by rapidly changing clinical conditions. Prerequisites for this new Ursuline program are a BSN (bachelor of science degree in nursing) or a bridge RN (registered nurse) to MSN for post-licensure nurses, and a minimum of one year of experience as a nurse in an acute-care setting before starting coursework.
Joint Bachelor’s Degree-Law Degree Program
In May, Ursuline College entered into an agreement with Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law to offer qualified students the opportunity to complete both bachelor’s and law degrees in six years, instead of the traditional seven. In this 3+3 program, the senior year of the student’s undergraduate studies at Ursuline will coincide with their first year at Cleveland-Marshall, allowing the student to earn a bachelor’s degree from Ursuline after their first year of law school studies.
Superintendent Licensure Program
Also new for fall, Ursuline is offering a Superintendent Licensure program to educate leaders in school and administrative settings. The program emphasizes leadership and management, curriculum and instruction, personnel and resource management, contract as well as state law, funding and fundraising, and educational theory.
“Currently, there is a need for highly qualified school administrators in Ohio,” said James Connell, dean of graduate and professional studies and retired superintendent of Berea City Schools. “The leadership necessary for quality school administration calls for a unique preparation.”
More than 265 Ursuline College graduates are already serving as school administrators in Northeast Ohio. Ursuline education programs are accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
3D Printer for Fashion Students
Ursuline College’s fashion design and fashion merchandising students will be turning their sketches into three-dimensional objects starting this fall thanks to the college’s recent purchase of a Dremel 3D printer.
"Our students are excited to begin building fashion accessories in the computer aided design class,” said Connie Korosec, professor and chair of fashion design and merchandising. “Our new 3-D printer allows students to design accessories on the computer and build them with the 3-D printer. Quick, easy, great results for student design ideas.” The 3-D printer purchase was made possible by a donation to the fashion program.
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer for Science Students
Ursuline College's chemistry and biology students have a new tool for discovery. The atomic absorption spectrometer (AA) arrived in August, thanks to a generous grant from the Stolier Foundation. This apparatus uses the absorption of light to measure the concentration of gas-phase atoms.
“Students learn chemistry most effectively when they can do labs that not only reinforce the theory learned in lecture, but also relate to their everyday life,” said Assistant Professor Melissa Barranger-Mathys. “For example, our first year chemistry students will use the AA to determine the metal concentration in a dissolved nickel. Our research students can begin projects on metals such as copper, nickel, and lead in the environment. These students are the future of science and we strive to provide a strong knowledge of chemistry here at Ursuline College.”
