Ahead of the Curve - Moravian College

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