WC nursing programs continue history of success
Kathy Boswell, dean of health and human sciences, addressed the Weatherford College Board of Trustees at their June meeting to report on the college’s Alesia Armstrong Wiggs School of Nursing programs.
From high pass rates to job placement success and positive feedback from hospital CEOs, Boswell covered slide after slide of data showing the continued success of WC’s nursing students.
“I like nothing more than to brag about my programs,” she said before diving into data on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing and Licensed Vocational Nursing programs.
The RN-to-BSN program, the college’s pioneering bachelor’s degree, commenced classes in 2020. Despite the initial lower-than-expected enrollment, administrators made strategic adjustments that allowed students meeting certain requirements to enroll in the ADN and BSN programs concurrently. This led to a significant increase in enrollment, with 160 students currently declaring a BSN major.
Boswell also revealed that due to the high demand and lack of classroom space, the college regretfully turned away 89 qualified applicants from the ADN program this fall. Administrators are proactively implementing two additional cohorts to start in Spring 2025, thereby increasing the number of ADN options between the Weatherford and Wise County campuses to nine.
She also bragged about the LVN faculty who presented to more than 700 people during a global webinar on bridging the gap between didactic and clinical judgment while showcasing WC’s state-of-the-art equipment.
“Also, Texas is now embracing LVNs in the hospital setting,” Boswell said. “The program director worked with three local hospitals to develop LVN residency programs for WC graduates, which integrates them into the workforce more strategically.”
WC’s LVN students also graduate with their IV certifications, which sets them apart from students in other programs and makes them highly sought after by employers.
“I want to say how impressed we all are with you and your team and what you do,” Board Chair Dan Carney said. “I hear it every day on the streets about this program, and it’s exciting to hear how well you’re doing. We all appreciate the things that you’re doing.”
In other business, the board:
- Approved the minutes from the May board meeting.
- Approved the quarterly investment report.
- Approved a second amendment to the CBRE facilities management services agreement and the renewal of facility maintenance services.
- Approved a contract quote from Flair Data Systems on student wireless internet equipment for Vickie and Jerry Durant Hall.
- Approved Snow Garrett Williams as financial auditors for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, with five optional one-year renewals.
- Approved Hilltop Securities as financial advisors.
- Received written updates from WC Wise County, academics and student services.
- Received the proposed 2024-25 budget.
In his President’s Report, Dr. Tod Allen Farmer:
- Announced a transfer agreement with Texas A&M Corpus Christi for WC’s BSN graduates to seamlessly transfer to TAMUCC master’s and doctorate of nursing practitioner programs. The formal agreement will be signed next month in Corpus Christi.
- Briefed the board on a school safety event hosted at WC attended by FBI officials, judges, the county attorney, area law enforcement and fire officials, school superintendents, and other various stakeholders.
- Briefed the board on a large-scale emergency responder training exercise held at the Alkek Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, May 22.
- Announced the retirement of William Seigler, physical sciences instructor, and the resignations of Caitlyn Ammons, associate degree nursing instructor; Courtney Love, cardiovascular sonography instructor and program director; Mitchell Vechione, head tennis coach; Leslie Richardson, graphic designer; and Ed Hadfield, fire academy program coordinator.
- Provided an enrollment update. As of May 30, the summer semester enrollment was 2,003 students, compared to 1,925 this time last year, a 3.9 percent increase. The fall semester enrollment is currently 2,269, up 32 percent from this time last year.