Email Updates

About IED

RSS Feeds

Advanced Search

search...

home : most recent : education

September 5, 2015

1/18/2012 2:03:00 PM

IU Kokomo launches new nursing degree

Most Recent

Lindsey Ziliak, Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer

Twenty-three students from across the region started work last week on Indiana
University Kokomos new masters degree in nursing.
Its a program that Chancellor Michael Harris has been hoping to launch since he arrived
at the campus a year and a half ago.
I saw the need for it, he said. There is a critical shortage of nurses and of nurses who
can be leaders, administrators and teachers.
The best part, he said, is that he was right. He said he never anticipated the program
would have 23 students in its first class. The school even had to put some students on a
waiting list to get in.
Theres quite a few on the list, and it will only grow when the word spreads, he said.
Gail Ebert and three of her co-workers drive from Anderson to take classes.

Share

We were looking for a program with classroom instruction, not so much looking for
something online, she said in a press release from the school. Were driving a good
distance to be here.
Students in the first class come from Kokomo, Indianapolis, Anderson, Lafayette,
Logansport and Marion, among other communities. They can complete the masters
program in two years and will be prepared for careers in hospital management or
teaching.
Evelyn Kamoto, of Elkhart, said she found the program online and chose it for its nursing
administration track. Kamoto, originally from the African country Malawi, is the programs
first international student, according to a press release from the school.
Harris said he has met with and talked to each student.
Theyre a great class, he said. They bring a lot of experience.
All of them are currently working as nurses, he said. Ebert and her co-workers are
employed by Community Hospital in Anderson.
Harris said some nurses are drawn to Kokomos campus because its a close-knit
community with faculty that work one-on-one with students.
Thats what brought Memory Mollongwa to Kokomo for her masters degree.
I recognize the faculty, and it wasnt as intimidating, she said in a press release from
the school.
Harris said personal relationships between teachers and students are important. Because
of that, the school will never accept more than about 25 students into its new masters
program, he said.
We are on our way to be the best regional campus in the world, Harris said. We are on
our way to be the best [Master of Science in nursing] program nothing short of that is
sufficient for us.
2015 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.

Editor, John C. DePrez Jr.; Executive Editor, Carol Rogers; Publishers: IBRC and IAR
Software 1998-2015 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved

converted by W eb2PDFConvert.com