Ahead of the Curve - Moravian College
Ahead of the Curve - Moravian College
Ahead of the Curve - Moravian College
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<strong>Ahead</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Curve</strong><br />
St. Luke’s Hospital School <strong>of</strong> Nursing<br />
at <strong>Moravian</strong> Celebrates Ten Years<br />
The years have passed quickly since St. Luke’s Hospital School <strong>of</strong> Nursing (SON) decided<br />
to partner with <strong>Moravian</strong> <strong>College</strong> in 1998, marrying St. Luke’s nursing program with <strong>Moravian</strong>’s<br />
liberal arts-based baccalaureate program. “It’s been a good marriage,” says Janet<br />
Sipple, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> nursing and first chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> department.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sipple had been recruited by St. Luke’s to lead <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> partnering<br />
with a local college. “We looked at Lehigh, Cedar Crest, DeSales, Penn State, and Kutztown,<br />
but chose <strong>Moravian</strong> because <strong>of</strong> its mission,” she says. “<strong>Moravian</strong>’s commitment to<br />
excellence in teaching matched St. Luke’s philosophy. It<br />
was a very conscious decision.” The partnership also<br />
benefited from <strong>the</strong> longstanding relationship between<br />
<strong>the</strong> two institutions. Both have a long history in Bethlehem,<br />
both share community-focused missions, and both<br />
have shared many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same supporters.<br />
Since 1998, <strong>the</strong> faculty has grown from seven<br />
full-time members to <strong>the</strong> current fifteen plus numerous<br />
part-time members. By May 2009, 110 nurses will have<br />
graduated from <strong>the</strong> program. Although many students<br />
apply, only thirty are accepted each year. “Because we<br />
are associated with a liberal arts college, we don’t want<br />
<strong>the</strong> program to grow too large,” explains Kerry Cheever,<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> nursing and chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> department. “It<br />
would be self-defeating. Part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nursing program’s<br />
strength is its liberal arts context, which provides a<br />
superior education experience for our students.”<br />
Minor curriculum changes have been implemented<br />
over <strong>the</strong> years, but <strong>the</strong> program’s unique features<br />
remain. “Our focus on community and global health has<br />
been <strong>the</strong>re since <strong>the</strong> beginning—it was visionary,” says<br />
Cheever. “Students have <strong>the</strong> option to study in Australia<br />
Nursing students, like Ramona Robison<br />
or Honduras. And recently, we developed a partnership ’09 (above), may travel to Honduras to<br />
study and assist in health care clinics.<br />
with nurses in Mozambique. These global partnerships are<br />
highly unique for a program our size. Learning about health<br />
care in o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world forces students and faculty to think in new ways.”<br />
Through <strong>the</strong> Comenius Center for Continuing, Pr<strong>of</strong>essional, and Graduate Studies,<br />
<strong>the</strong> nursing program also <strong>of</strong>fers a baccalaureate degree for registered nurses who have<br />
already graduated from o<strong>the</strong>r programs. In addition, SON/<strong>Moravian</strong> is working toward a<br />
graduate degree program with three possible tracks. The program would take an interdisciplinary<br />
approach that would draw upon <strong>the</strong> strengths <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Comenius Center’s M.B.A.<br />
and education programs.<br />
“Our nursing program began with a strong foundation, and our new direction is phenomenal,”<br />
says Cheever. “It’s very exciting to think where we might be in ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
ten years.”<br />
learns in <strong>the</strong> classroom, as she seeks <strong>the</strong><br />
most effective ways to reach her students.<br />
Yet she feels grounded in <strong>the</strong> preparation<br />
she received. “One reason I chose <strong>Moravian</strong><br />
is that it is a nationally accredited school <strong>of</strong><br />
music,” she says. “The classes are specifically<br />
geared for teaching music in all grades,<br />
pre-K through 12, and we received plenty<br />
<strong>of</strong> practical experience.”<br />
Just as she did at <strong>Moravian</strong>, Connolly<br />
also performs in <strong>the</strong> athletic arena, coaching<br />
girls’ basketball and cross-country<br />
teams. “Being involved in athletics<br />
gives you ano<strong>the</strong>r way to<br />
connect with <strong>the</strong> kids,” she says.<br />
“I understand <strong>the</strong> time commitment<br />
that both music and sports<br />
require. As a teacher, I try to<br />
take a flexible approach because<br />
I want my students to experience<br />
as much as possible.”<br />
While teaching is a popular<br />
choice for new <strong>Moravian</strong> graduates<br />
(nearly one in five 2007<br />
grads were employed as teachers<br />
last year), students take various<br />
paths to <strong>the</strong> classroom. Michael<br />
McCartney ’05, college counselor<br />
and humanities instructor<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Maine School <strong>of</strong> Science<br />
and Ma<strong>the</strong>matics (MSSM),<br />
“always knew” he wanted to<br />
teach secondary school English.<br />
But, encouraged by several<br />
<strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>essors, McCartney<br />
instead opted for a dual major<br />
in English and history, with an eye toward<br />
teaching at <strong>the</strong> college level.<br />
“I knew no matter what path I chose,<br />
it would lead to teaching,” he says. “The<br />
liberal arts approach, which teaches you to<br />
think and to talk intelligently, really is an<br />
excellent foundation.” Although he had no<br />
undergraduate education classes, teacher<br />
training came from a variety <strong>of</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
experiences—teaching “Introduction to<br />
<strong>College</strong> Life,” participating in <strong>the</strong>ater and<br />
LeaderShape, giving class presentations, and<br />
observing his own pr<strong>of</strong>essors.<br />
McCartney’s students at MSSM—a<br />
highly-rated residential secondary school<br />
that teaches college-level courses—are sure<br />
16 MORAVIAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE SPRING 2009