Comments on: C. College ReRun, Three Views

By: Treva

Treva — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:31:16 +0000

Just to clarify an earlier post, I tend to be in favor of community colleges. The community college system in Kentucky allowed my daughter to proceed through several steps to work as a nurse, first with an LPN program, then a 2 year RN program and finally to her BSN degree at a state college extension.

What I question, (and I will admit to not investigating more) is when hugh amounts of mass mailings and television ads are being done I have to question where the money is coming from. People generally invest their money with the expectation that there will be a return on the investment. My question is who will benefit financially from this ad campaign?

By: RiverCity

RiverCity — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:04:30 +0000

We are really getting bogged down on the nursing issue and the community college. That is only a small spectum of what the community college can offer. It will be able to more efficiently offer 2 year programs and other non-four year courses than will BSU. If BSU could get rid of the Selland College then they could focus more resources to higher level academics and research, which is what their true mission is supposed to be.

By: Clippityclop

Clippityclop — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:32:29 +0000

Robert,
Trust me, there is zero chance of “flooding the market” with nurses. Ask the CEOs of both major hospitals what their number one concern is and they’ll tell you, without question, quality nurse recruitment. They know what’s already here and what’s coming. Floor and unit nurses will tell you the same thing. Without an influx of good nurses to replace those retiring soon, and to allow expanded care of a growing population, the always available hospital care we take for granted will be seriously compromised. BSU and NNU cannot ramp up enough to meet the need.
Nancy,
It not “as simple as that”. We really need more programs yesterday. Waiting for the legislature to throw cash at BSU ain’t going to cut it. Further, I really don’t think that staffing a community college nursing program is going to be the problem you think it is for the reasons I’ve previously stated above. Talk to your nurse friends. They’ll give you the straight skinny and I think you’ll come away with a different perspective.

By: Julie in Boise

Julie in Boise — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:07:23 +0000

Several other Idaho bloggers from across the political spectrum made posts today in support of the community college plan. Here's mine, with links to the others. http://redstaterebels.typepad.com/red_state_rebels/2007/05/blogger_unite_f.html I have concerns about the proposal, but I believe many of the details can and will be resolved. Right now, Idaho has the fewest community colleges of any state in the nation. I'm sick of being last in everything, and I want to give our kids more opportunities for affordable higher ed. And $20-30 bucks or so a year in extra taxes is a freakin' bargain, folks. Quit being so cheap.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Tue, 08 May 2007 17:35:16 +0000

BSU is probably the biggest silent cheerleader for Community college for a couple of reasons. They could “sell” the Seland College of Tech. A.k.a Truck Driving school and they would be bailed out of the BSU West campus.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:45:55 +0000

Clippityclop – sounds like double think to me. Nursing teachers will not work for BSU but will for a community college? If BSU had the funding to expand it’s program (taachers and facilities) and could add more seats (students) it in fact would address the problem – it is in fact that simple. If the legislature wanted to expand nursing it has several means outside of a community college.

By: RiverCity

RiverCity — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:42:20 +0000

If Boise State University really wants to attain the status of “Metropolitan Research University of Distinction” then it needs to get rid of the 2-year degree programs.

BSU is overloaded and over capacity, and the City of Boise is far past due for a community college. Have you ever tried to sign up for a program or classes at BSU? Just getting through the administration process and finding a class that isn’t full is a chore. The community college will alleviate this for many who might feel too intimidated to apply at BSU. Like I said before, there are far, far worse things to spend tax payer money on than a community college. It will get my vote.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 08 May 2007 10:42:16 +0000

Yes lets flood the market with nurse’s so that the pay will go down, no benifits will be offered and the admistraters of the hospitals can inflate their over inflated wages even more. Make’s sense to me.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 08 May 2007 04:15:41 +0000

Clippityclop nails it about experienced and/or retiring nurses potentially being excellent teachers. There’s a dire nursing shortage in the valley and “expanding BSU’s program” is not enough, even if that were a viable solution.

Remember, if we expand BSU, the taxpayers will pay for it anyway, and they’ll pay a cost much more than estimated for the community college. Try $10 million in property taxes to expand BSU vs. $4 million in property taxes to fund a new community college. People should think twice before making the knee-jerk reaction of “expanding BSU.” Yes, you’ll pay higher taxes and the students will still have to pay Boise State’s high tuition costs.

EDITOR NOTE–For clarity, BSU funds would NOT come from property tax and any tax funds would come from ALL of Idaho, not just Ada and Canyon counties. Many people question the $4 million figure as well.

By: Clippityclop

Clippityclop — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:34:42 +0000

I think you might be surprised when it comes to recruiting nurse educators at the community college level. Nursing is a phenonmenally arduous career, physically, mentally and emotionally. There is a large cadre of extremely experienced and caring nurses at both large city hospitals who are nearing retirement and/or are looking for meaningful work that is less taxing than what they are being asked to do in this time of unrelenting demand and nursing shortage.

I can imagine no better teachers. These women and men have seen it all, done it all and have their finger on the pulse of this community. Ask your nurse friends — what do they think about the need for community colleges? Their answer may surprise you. By the way, BSU is not the only nursing program in the valley. NNU has one, too, and both still can’t even come close to accomodating even a reasonable number of qualified applicants who apply and whose services are desperately needed. And the shortage we are experiencing now is expected to reach a crisis state in the years to come.