 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Vision Statements | Degree Programs | Admission | Forms | Contacts | Clinical |
|
|
|
 |
|||||||||
|
|
 |
 |
| GENERAL INFORMATION: 1. Program Type
2. Name and address
On behalf of: Austin Peay State University East Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee State University Tennessee Technological University University of Memphis 3. Name and title of the administrator of the nursing unit Pam Holder, DSN, RN Phone: 615-366-3972 Fax: 615-366-3986 IntroductionThe State of Tennessee has two systems responsible for public post-secondary education - The University of Tennessee System and The State University and Community College System of Tennessee, officially known as the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) System. Both systems are entirely separate units, but are coordinated by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). TBR is the largest public system of higher education in Tennessee and the sixth largest system of higher education in the United States. The TBR is composed of six universities, 13 community colleges and 26 technology centers. The six universities are Austin Peay University (located in Clarksville, TN), East Tennessee State University (located in Johnson City, TN), Middle Tennessee State University (located in Murfreesboro, TN), Tennessee State University (located in Nashville, TN), Tennessee Technological University (located in Cookeville, TN) and the University of Memphis (located in Memphis, TN).
The Tennessee Board of Regents is recognized as a collaborative system in which universities, community colleges, and technology centers work together, each with a distinct role, to provide seamless educational opportunity to all Tennesseans. Together these universities represent an unduplicated head count of 81,680 students in higher education in the state of Tennessee for Fall 2005. In 2000 TBR enacted a statewide collaborative to offer courses online. This was in an effort to meet the ever demanding need for higher education of people in the state. The Tennessee Board of Regents initiated development of a system wide web based program at its meeting of July 11, 2000. On September 22, 2000, the TBR approved a framework for the development of the proposed Tennessee Regents web based degrees. On December 8, 2000, the board approved a description of major parameters of the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) which included both associate and bachelor degrees. The first online courses were offered by RODP in Fall 2001. Since its inception, degree options have been added to include graduate education and selected certificates in areas that address statewide needs. RODP currently offers five associate degrees, two bachelor degrees, and two master degrees. Additionally a variety of endorsements and certificates are available through RODP. Students enrolled in RODP courses and programs have a home campus designation. Students apply and register at their home campus and the home campus awards their degree. Students are advised by their home campus and adhere to all policies of the home campus. Courses are taught online by faculty from all participating colleges/schools (delivery school) and are transferable among all participating institutions. Courses have been designed for a fifteen (15) week semester--in an interactive, asynchronous (accessing courses at their convenience 24/7) format. All courses contain the same content and rigor as courses offered in the place based – on campus format. All new courses and programs undergo the same review and approval process required for each participating campus plus a required RODP curriculum review and approval. The current student enrollment (Fall 2005) of 10,668 and headcount of 6,221 speaks to the outstanding growth and success of RODP.
RODP has been recognized for excellence in the online delivery of academic programs by a variety of professional organizations. For example, RODP was rated as one of the top three virtual programs in the nation by The Center for Academic Transformation Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2003, recognized by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Electronic Campus for online student services, and showcased as an exemplary system wide model at the national WebCT International Conference, 2003. RODP has full SACS approval; and all institutions are fully accredited. As described above, the Tennessee Board of Regents' colleges, universities, and technology centers joined to offer the Regents Online Degree Programs (RODP) in fall 2001. This highly successful model provides the infrastructure for the delivery of online programs and courses throughout the system. The addition of noncredit course offerings has been accomplished through Regents Online Continuing Education (ROCE). This continued growth has resulted in the development of the current structure which is identified as the Regents Online Campus Collaborative (ROCC). ROCC includes credit courses and degree granting programs (RODP) and noncredit courses (ROCE). ROCC demonstrates TBR’s commitment to cooperation and collaboration among its campuses while reducing duplication of programs and services. The mission of ROCC is to improve access, through the use technology, to high quality, affordable student learning opportunities. This mission is achieved through the cooperation and collaboration among TBR institutions and the provision of state of the art resources for online instruction and delivery. Based upon the proven foundation and infrastructure of RODP, ROCC provides the vision for addressing the workforce development and educational needs of the citizens of Tennessee. The resources of all TBR institutions are pooled to provide high quality education using innovative technology and delivery methods appropriate to the nature of the programs. As a participant of the ROCC, the campuses have access to resources essential to the viability and effectiveness of distance education programs. This collaborative model permits cost effective delivery of online educational offerings and assures that well-established essentials of quality found in regional and discipline-specific accreditation standards are achieved. History of the Program Baccalaureate prepared registered nurses in Tennessee have consistently indicated their desire to obtain their graduate degree in nursing from a public university in Tennessee. Many are forced to travel to surrounding states to attend MSN programs and online programs available to them are not their preferred choice. Until 1992, there were three master’s programs in Tennessee that were respectively located at Vanderbilt University, UT-Knoxville, and UT-Memphis. In 1992, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved an MSN program at East Tennessee State University and in 1996, at Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, TN. Most recently (June 2003), TBR approved the MSN program to be offered at the University of Memphis. In fall 2003, the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBN) reported that there were nine master’s programs in Tennessee serving approximately 500 enrolled students. There were no public institutions of higher education in Tennessee that offered a Master of Science in Nursing program online. There were only two (Union University and University of Memphis) programs in Tennessee with a nursing education focus. Recognizing the need to address a critical shortage of advanced practice nurses, and nursing faculty in particular, in the state of Tennessee, the deans and directors of the schools/colleges of nursing in the TBR universities joined to collaborate in the development and implementation of the Master of Science in Nursing to be offered through RODP (MSN RODP). In March 2004, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Board of Nursing (TBN) approved the MSN RODP proposal. In April, 2004, the program was approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). The Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) also approved the program in September 2003. Students were admitted and began classes fall 2004. The MSN RODP is designed to address the needs of the adult learner and full time nurse employee through a 24/7 asynchronous online delivery model. All didactic courses are taught online. Clinical courses are arranged for local delivery through an approved preceptor in consultation with course faculty. Each institution offers the same curriculum and all courses are taught by qualified faculty from the participating university. Students are admitted to their respective home campus and the degree is awarded by this institution. MSN RODP students are afforded all rights and privileges of their respective institution available to every student. The colleges/schools of nursing at the six TBR universities [Austin Peay State University (APSU) School of Nursing, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) College of Nursing, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) School of Nursing, Tennessee State University (TSU) School of Nursing, Tennessee Technological University (TTU) School of Nursing, and the Loewenberg School of Nursing at the University of Memphis (UoM)] offer the MSN RODP as a consortium. The consortium is defined as the nursing education unit. The respective deans/directors of the colleges/schools of nursing serve as the Executive Committee (EC) of MSN RODP. The Executive Committee provides primary oversight and decision making authority of all aspects of the Master of Science in Nursing Regents Online Degree Program and Consortium activities. The EC is responsible for identifying degree requirements, setting program standards and guidelines, and monitoring accreditation requirements and standards. The EC also addresses issues related to faculty workload. A coordinator for the program has been employed at TBR through a dual services agreement with one of the participating institutions. Current members of the Executive Committee can be found at http://www.rodp.org/msn/exec_committee.htm. |
|
Enroll Today | Degrees & Courses | Student Services | Faculty Support | MSN & Nursing MEd & Edu.
ROCE Workforce Development | Statewide Resources | About This Site