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Health college sees more interest amid slumping economy
Photo by James Nix
Mount Pleasant resident Marty Ragan, 44, and his 19-year-old daughter Mallory are both enrolled in programs at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences this fall. Marty Ragan returned to school after a 20-year career at Phillip Morris, which closed last month.
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Published: September 2, 2009
CONCORD — The economy has shed 6 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. Many unemployed workers, as enrollment statistics have shown, are headed back to college or to programs to retrain in fields that offer a more stable profession.
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in Concord has seen a 12-percent increase in enrollment compared to fall of last year. Applications are also up 17 percent compared to last year.
"Interest in health care in general is up. It's reflected in our open house attendance, which is up 53 percent to the previous year," said Mark Ellison, director of admissions.
The college, which offers nursing and allied health programs, has enrolled 166 new students, which is an increase of 22 percent, and the largest in college history.
Out of those 166 students, 19 have associate degrees, 34 have a prior bachelor's degree, four have prior master's degrees and one has a law degree. The graduate employment rate for CCHS within six months of graduation (for the last 10 years) is 97 percent.
The largest increase in interest is in the occupational therapy assistant program and the pre-nursing track associate degree. This program guarantees admission into the associate degree nursing program.
New students to the health college include several people laid off from Philip Morris and Freightliner. Philip Morris included retraining opportunities in their severance packages.
Marty Ragan, of Mount Pleasant, was laid off in July by Philip Morris. At 44-years-old, he has decided to return to college for a major career shift. Ragan is in the occupational therapy program, and is currently enrolled at the college along with his 19-year-old daughter, Mallory, a transfer from N.C. State University. Mallory is enrolled in the associate degree nursing program.
"I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, so I had planned on getting a four-year degree in biology. I decided I wanted to be a nurse, and they (Marty and his wife) came to an open house here," Mallory said. "I didn't know that I could be a four-year BS in completion program here, so as soon as I found that out, I applied."
N.C. State doesn't have a nursing program. Although she liked the university, Mallory said this type of program was more appealing to her. She wants to be a surgical nurse or a nurse anesthetist — not a doctor.
"I feel more passionate about nursing. I like more patient contact," Mallory said.
Marty and Mallory have ended up as classmates in two classes.
Marty's decision to go back to school came from a different perspective. He tore a bicep tendon about a year ago, and needed occupational therapy for the injury.
"At the time, I knew I was being laid off. I thought this guy (his therapist) really enjoyed his job. What appeals to me was someone comes in hurt and gradually recovers from their injury," Marty said.
He said he wanted something with personal contact, to be able to help someone, and to do something he enjoyed.
Marty was nervous making the decision, and thinks fear is a "good motivator."
His family has been very supportive, which Marty said can help bring calm to the situation.
"I am a lot more serious than when I went to school at a younger age. The simplest way I can put it is that I had 20 years, on third shift, to think about it. It puts a different perspective on it," Marty said.
Marty thinks he will have some control over what he does, unlike the work with his previous employer.
"I'm not bad mouthing Philip Morris, but there, I was dictated what I did, and what shift I had. With this field, it's so open," Marty said.
The younger students have been supportive, Marty said, and have offered study tips, and sold him used textbooks.
For others going through the same ordeal, he offers some advice.
"It's not the end of the world. When I applied here there was some self doubt. Give yourself a chance. I didn't think I had the previous grades to be here. It was a long process, but if you don't apply, or you don't turn that application in you won't get a chance," Marty said.
Marty finds himself paying two tuitions, Mallory's and his own.
More than 87 percent of the students receive financial aid. Ellison says the college works with students facing economic problems by offering a program that extends payments over the course of a semester.
But the end result is worth it, based on the college's graduation rate.
Ellison says the pass rates on certification programs for 2008 were high. For the occupational therapy program, 92 percent passed certification; for the associate degree nursing program, it was 94 percent; for the medical assistant program, it was 100 percent
Marty said he and Mallory love the new adventure they are facing together.
"It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I have seen him work hard on his application, and studying for his tests," Mallory said. "It's encouraging to have him here. I know he is working so hard. That makes me want to work that much harder.
"I don't want her to think, 'I have to pass my schooling and help Dad too,'" Marty said. "There is some competition, but I don't feel I'll do as well as she does."
Tannisha Simmons, another nursing student, has a very different situation.
Simmons comes to the health college with a master's degree in health administration, a bachelor's degree in English from Hofstra University and a two-and-half-year-old daughter.
At 29, Simmons said she has plans for her long-term career path.
"I would like to go into nurse education. There is a shortage of nursing instructors," Simmons said.
Studying for her master's degree, she wanted to become a nursing home administrator.
"I think the best administrators, honestly, and the ones that have longevity, are nurses. They know the clinical side," Simmons said.
The administration side combines clinical training with the business aspects of the profession, Simmons said.
"I'm not really a business-side person. I like a lot of hands-on work, and the 'people' aspect. When you're an administrator, you obviously have to be more business focused," Simmons said.
Simmons loves education, and is excited to be back at school, but has some trepidation.
"I am very nervous. I've been able to calm my nerves, because I've been working as a nursing assistant at CMC-Main," Simmons said.
"I feel like I kind of gotten a feel of the clinical atmosphere, and it's a lot different than the business side. You are face-to-face with the person getting the care."
Her husband Ryan is very supportive, and plans to go back to college when Simmons is done, to work on his MBA.
"He says 'This is your time so let's make this work.' He takes our daughter to school and picks her up. He's the cook, and it works out very well. I am very fortunate," Simmons said.
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