Regent to Establish College of Healthcare Sciences and School of Nursing in Fall 2018
In a unanimous vote, the Regent University Board of Trustees approved the creation of a new College of Healthcare Sciences to launch in fall 2018. The announcement was made today by Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, Regent’s founder, CEO and chancellor.
“Career growth in health-related fields is expanding explosively and demand for quality healthcare graduates is three times that of other fields,” said Robertson. “Regent’s record 10,000 student enrollment growth is due in part to our strategic investment in new healthcare programs. By adding a stand-alone College of Healthcare Sciences, we will build upon this exponential growth trajectory by offering some of the most in-demand programs in the nation over the coming years.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor market is currently experiencing a shortage of healthcare professionals, and that gap is expected to persist. Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19 percent through 2024, adding about 2.3 million new jobs, including over 1 million new nursing jobs nationally and over 32,000 in Virginia by 2030.
“Our goal is to provide students with the highest quality clinical learning experiences to supplement classroom learning while also serving our regional healthcare organizations,” added Robertson. “Developing healthcare professionals has never been more critical in our nation and it is part of our mission to serve communities in Virginia and beyond.”
When it opens in fall of 2018, the college will include a new School of Nursing that will offer clinical as well as online degree programs. Regent’s current healthcare degree programs will be moved under the new college alongside new programs. The college is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, plus the following programs already in development for 2018:
- MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)*
- DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)*
Other programs being considered for the future include:
- N.P. (Nurse Practitioner Certification)
- B.S., Public Health
- M.S., Public Health
- M.S., Healthcare Informatics
- M.S., Healthcare Administration
- M.S., Physical Therapy and/or DPT. (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- M.S., Occupational Therapy and/or OTD. (Occupational Therapy Doctor)
Additional programs in could include: Medical Records Administration, Phlebotomy and Radiology. The search for a dean is already underway.
*Pending SACSCOC Approval