SPRING-OA 2022

“We’ve developed a culture based on Mother Theodore Guerin’s philosophy, ‘Love the children first, then teach them’,” said Miller. As the College expands its athletic programs, Miller has made it a point to welcome student-athletes – a practice that isn’t widely shared by other nursing programs. With demanding academic and clinical requirements, faculty understand the added support student-athletes need to thrive. “Professors welcomed me with open arms. They were progressive planners, so I had time to work my athletic commitments around classes, and they were willing to make arrangements when I was on the road so that I would not miss any opportunities,” said Schafer, a member of the volleyball team. Flexibility draws the attention of non-traditional students, too. About 10 percent of current students are pursuing nursing as a second career through the fast-track program. Cliff Jackson is a fast-track student with experience in business and accounting. After years of working long hours, he wanted a career that allowed better work-life balance. “My whole family is in the nursing field. They work three days per week, where I work seven and would work an eighth day if we had one. Since I have young kids, the draw to nursing was to get away from working 70-80 hours a week,” said Jackson. When considering nursing school, Jackson found SMWC could meet his three priorities: to get through the program as quickly as possible, balance school while working full time, and gain as much hands-on experience in the process. SMWC customized an accelerated program to help him become a registered nurse in roughly 18 months. Miller’s long-term goal is to add a second nursing cohort and to grow the post-graduate offerings. She adds that she never envisioned the nursing program as strictly baccalaureate, but as an incubator hub for new and innovative programs. Penny Quinn, Ph.D., saw opportunity for growth in the health and wellness programming when she joined SMWC as an associate professor and department chair in 2019. With funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc., the college was able to launch an exercise science major. In just two years, enrollment has jumped to 42 students. Quinn associates some of the growth to the College’s focused expansion of athletics, which brings a student population whose interests lean toward health and wellness-related careers, as well as job market demand. “Health and wellness-related career opportunities are growing nationwide as our population is living longer and doing more to ensure their lifetime is as active and healthy as possible,” said Quinn. Lilly Endowment grant funds provided for lab renovations, new equipment and a dedicated associate professor of exercise science. Quinn is currently investigating the potential of a massage therapy degree and a certificate in coaching in the future. Miller says the key to sustaining growth in health-related programs is knowing what their students need to succeed and customizing a support system that works for them. “They know the faculty is invested in them. We know our students and their family. This enables us to provide individualized support so that they are successful personally and professionally,” said Miller. Left: While a nursing student at SMWC, Brian Zac Otte explored the Anatomage at the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) simulation center. Since graduating from SMWC, he is now a nurse in the ICU at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. Right: Kara Shafer, current SMWC nursing student stops for a quick photo while working at her clinical.

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