CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents recently approved incidental fees equal to in-state undergraduate incidental fees for all students enrolled in the totally online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree program.
The Board also approved a $100 per credit hour special course fee for required online nursing courses in the program effective for the spring 2012 term.
Under the new schedule, online RN to BSN students will pay the current incidental fee rate for in-state students of $187.80 per credit hour, $30.70 per credit hour in general fees and $12.50 per credit hour in online course fees.
“These fees are intended to assist in funding the technology infrastructure required for online instruction,” said Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration.
She says nursing has higher than average instruction costs. The $100 per credit hour special course fee is designed to attract and retain quality nursing faculty to teach and administer the program.
Due to changes in Southeast’s current RN to BSN program, the University has seen a steady increase in enrollment from the first online class admitted in fall 2008, Provost Ron Rosati said.
He says the growth is reflective of several curriculum changes implemented, including moving from offering face to face to totally online RN to BSN courses; offering courses in eight-week blocks; and allowing registered nurses to complete all nursing course requirements (25 hours or six courses) in two semesters.
More than 70 registered nurses have been accepted into the nursing RN to BSN online program at Southeast, Rosati said.
A single incidental fee rate for students in an online major recognizes that enrollment is not limited by physical location of the student. It also expands accessibility of the program beyond the geographic boundaries of Southeast campuses, Mangels said. This fall, only five out-of- state students are in the RN to BSN major. The Department of Nursing’s goal is to enroll 60 new students in the major for next spring.
Rosati said most nurses in the United States are prepared at the associate degree level.
“Currently 65.9 percent of RNS do not have a BSN,” he said.
Research shows the majority of these RNS are employed full-time, working 40 to 60 hours per week in health care settings. In 2001, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panel called for two-thirds of the nursing workforce to have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing by 2010. The effect of advanced education research linking a BSN-prepared workforce and better patient outcomes has been the driving force behind promoting BSN-in-10 legislation, including in Missouri, Rosati said.
POPLAR BLUFF - The Music Department at Three Rivers College will present its annual Madrigal Dinner Nov. 17 and 18 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.
A madrigal dinner is a form of dinner theater often held by schools and church groups, traditionally set in the Middle Ages and comedic in nature. The meal is divided into courses, each of which is introduced with a traditional song. A play is performed between the courses and a choral concert concludes the festivities.
Seating for the Three Rivers madrigal will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner to follow at 6:30. After dinner, the music students will perform a comedic play entitled “Who Killed the Kilt?”
The madrigal dinner is a tradition in the Three Rivers music department, going back over 25 years.
"I enjoy the music and pageantry of this historical period, and I’m excited to share it with the students and the community," said music instructor and madrigal director Cindy White.
Tickets are on sale now at the college Business/Financial Services office and the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce for $15 each. Ticketholders will enjoy a meal from Tasteful Creations catering and a variety of musical performances by Three Rivers students, as well as guest artists. A limited number of tickets are available, and must be purchased by Nov. 11.
The funds generated by the dinner will be used to fund the dinner and future musical productions. For more information on other upcoming events at Three Rivers College, please visit trcc.edu.
Photo Above: Three Rivers choral music students are shown performing on campus in Madrigal costumes under the direction of Cindy White, instructor of music. This year’s Madrigal Dinner will be hosted Nov. 17-18; tickets are on sale now.
Lucky Reader
Travis Waldner is a pretty lucky young man these days. The fourth grade student reached 100 percent of his Accelerated Reader goal for the first quarter of the academic year, and had his name entered into a drawing. Out of all the students at Dexter's Central Elementary who reached 100 percent of their first quarter goal, young Waldner's name was drawn and he won a goody basket to help celebrate fall and Halloween that included a book, gift certificates, candy and even some glow-in-the-dark bracelets! Travis is in the fourth grade at Central. Congratulations, Travis! (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will consider the feasibility of constructing a new residence hall on the north end of campus and whether to authorize a contract for architectural and engineering services when it meets Oct. 21.
The Regents also will consider two resolutions declaring the University’s intent to issue bonds to provide $26.75 million in construction proceeds to fund the project. The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in Room 112 of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
In another housing-related matter, the Regents will consider authorizing Southeast officials to contract for architectural and engineering services to complete a Greek Housing master plan that could result in a new Greek Village. The Board also will assess related utility infrastructure needs.
The Board will consider restructuring and changing the name of the School of Polytechnic Studies and approving incidental and special course fees for the recently started online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Program.
The Board also will consider a motion to go into a closed session for appropriate considerations. When the open session reconvenes, the final item on the agenda will be consideration of a motion to adjourn
