14 minute read
From the President
FROM PRESIDENT
Christine Pharr, Ph.D., President, Mount Mary University
A ranking came out recently in U.S. News and World Report that really matters to me: Mount Mary was ranked as the #1 institution in Wisconsin and the #3 university in the Midwest for increasing student social mobility.
Dear Mount Mary Alumnae and Friends,
As we move into the warmer days of spring and summer and the flowers emerge from their long winter sleep, new life abounds and I myself have been blessed with the wonder of a new granddaughter. Spring and new life always instill hope in me. It is a sign of beginning anew. This has been one of the most challenging years in recent history for many people and yet my look back at Mount Mary’s successes over the years reminds me that we constantly strive to educate our students as a whole person as they adapt and thrive in a changing world. How do we measure success and thriving of our students? The world is full of rankings and Mount Mary, like other higher education institutions, constantly examines data to see how we stack up. Rankings certainly do not tell the whole story but they do matter, and there is one that came out recently in U.S. News and World Report that really matters to me: social mobility. Mount Mary was ranked as the #1 institution in Wisconsin and the #3 university in the Midwest for student social mobility. So what does this mean? It means that although we serve a wide array of students with different levels of income, that amongst those of low-income (who have the most significant barriers to completion), Mount Mary graduates more students than any other school in Wisconsin and than most schools in the Midwest. This success is important because it provides solid evidence of an outcome, set within the context of a larger community conversation currently in the news, that of free community college for all. Many of you have heard about the advantages of free college. While on the surface it may sound attractive, I would invite you to consider some facts and perhaps some unintended consequences of free college: FACT 1: Free college does not selectively help those most in need. It allows students from all income levels to attain a free college education. It will be very expensive to taxpayers.
FACT 2: Free public education will result in even larger public institutions that have large class sizes, less student support and individual attention to students. In time, this will likely result in less student success – especially for those most in need of a personalized college environment.
FACT 3: Smaller private colleges will not be able to attract undergraduate students, resulting in lower enrollment and significant financial burdens that may cause some schools to close. Only truly wealthy students will be able to choose the kind of education that is offered only at private schools.
FACT 4: Nothing is free. Someone must pay salaries, operations, etc. Taxpayers will pay for free college.
FACT 5: There is no system in place to orchestrate free college and many unanswered questions. It will take much time to figure out how this works. There is a more equitable and justice-focused alternative. One solution is to double Pell grants. Why is this better?
President Pharr recently traveled to her daughter’s home in Colorado to welcome her new granddaughter, Beatrice Harper, into the family.
LEADERS AT HEART
New nursing program focused on mission
Chief Nurse Administrator Kara Groom, Ph.D. demonstrates the new interactive mannequins and nursing equipment that will provide engaging, hands-on learning. In fall, Mount Mary will open the doors to a new four-year BSN program designed to fill an important niche in the community: To create nurse leaders who will further equitable health care for all. The new BSN program is a traditional, rigorous program that meets the state’s requirements for licensure. However, Mount Mary’s mission-centered curriculum is uniquely prepared to train nurses who: • Address health disparities within the population as advocates for health care equity. • Work effectively with other health care providers within complex health care environments. “We know that health disparities exist in our community and know that we need nurses who are ready to address these disparities and advocate for the change needed
to take the very best care, not just for their individual patients, but for the broader community in general,” said Chief Nurse Administrator Kara Groom, Ph.D. These differentiators are reflected in the curriculum and are evident in the design of the physical space, which will promote reflective and rich learning.
STUDENTS LEARN CARE THROUGH COMPASSION FOR ALL
High-tech debriefing conference rooms with one-way mirrors will enable students to learn as To prepare nurses for this they observe their peers perform real-world nursing simulations. challenge, the first year of studies will include the Leadership for “Research has shown that a high-quality learning Social Justice seminar course, science courses and liberal experience includes more than just time in a simulation arts core curriculum classes. lab taking care of patients,” said Groom. “An effective This lays the foundation for an understanding of the human body – and for the complexities of our world. learning experience also includes the preparation and debrief after a simulated experience. That’s where the reflective learning takes place when we think about “Mount Mary’s new nursing program has the distinction simulation activities.” of a mission-focused curriculum that encourages leadership, integrity and a deep sense of social justice,” said Karen Friedlen, Ph.D., Vice President for PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY Academic Affairs. Mount Mary has a history of nationally-recognized programs in the health sciences, enabling pre-existing COLLABORATIVE SPACE ENSURES COOPERATION clinical partnerships to expand to the new nursing program. Nursing coursework will take place in the new, state-of-the-art 6,500 square-foot Health Sciences Center, Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab located in the lower level of Caroline Hall. Construction began last fall, and the labs and classrooms will be fully functional and ready to welcome students in August. Clinical rotations take place at partner facilities located in greater Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin. Students will have clinical training at a variety of institutions including Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; Froedtert; Advocate Aurora; Ascension; ProHealth Care; Milwaukee Catholic Home; and Clement Manor. The center will include spaces such as a CPR training facility, high-tech conference rooms and a simulation lab modeled after a real hospital space with high-fidelity, interactive mannequins. The facility has been designed to create an immersive, hands-on learning environment Trinity Woods, the new intergenerational housing community for students who are single mothers and their children, the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and seniors from the community, will also create additional learning opportunities. between students and faculty from various fields of health care. NURSING OPTIONS AT MOUNT MARY Students across multiple health disciplines, including Mount Mary will continue to offer the Nursing 1-2-1 occupational therapy and dietetics, will also utilize the and the RN to BSN completion programs alongside space, fostering a sense of collaboration around the this new four-year on-campus BSN. common goal of providing exceptional healing and The Nursing 1-2-1 program is offered in partnership care for patients. with Milwaukee Area Technical College and Waukesha
County Technical College. Students enrolled in the 1-2-1 program take their first year of courses on the Mount Mary campus, followed by two years at a partner institution and their fourth year fully online. Students obtain an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), licensure as a Registered Nurse, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), all within four years. This 1-2-1 program is an ideal option for students who want to have a fast pace and streamlined way to both enter the workforce in as little as three years and be on target for their bachelor’s degree in four years. The Nursing 1-2-1 continues to thrive, with a planned enrollment of 30 students. The RN to BSN program is offered fully online for working nurses with an associate degree who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree. “Each student is unique and needs to find the program that is the best fit for them. We are pleased to offer these distinct pathways so that students can become successful nurses who serve our community,” Groom said.
PROGRAM DESIGN MEETS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS
Mount Mary will welcome the first class of students into the new, four-year nursing program on campus in fall 2021. Since announcing the program last October, 108 prospective students have applied, over four times the amount of students needed to reach the enrollment goal.
The Health Sciences Center is an interprofessional space where occupational therapy, dietetics and nursing students can collaborate with each other so they are ready to work with a variety of professionals.
-Cheryl Bailey, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural and Health Sciences and Education
Before
After
Nursing students and students in other health sciences programs will work in collaboration in the newly redesigned space.
The accredited, 120-hour program is a traditional nursing program and offers direct admission. Students do not have to enter as a pre-nursing student to later compete for a limited number of spaces their junior year, as is often the case at larger institutions. This creates a positive learning environment as well as the ability to graduate on time. Mount Mary is also dedicated to addressing the diversity in nursing. As the most diverse higher education institution in the area, 60% of undergraduate students identify as persons of color. “We know the diversity in nursing does not reflect the diversity in our community and we have a mission here at Mount Mary to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce,” Groom said.
Before
After
Learn about the Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab at magazine.mtmary.edu.
Learn more about Mount Mary’s nursing programs at mtmary.edu/nursing.
The lower level of Caroline Hall, which previously housed the pool and lockers, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art 6,500 square-foot Health Sciences Center, Nursing Skills Lab and Interprofessional Simulation Lab.
Celebrating an era of Leadership
Board of Trustees Chair Cathy Buck reflects upon years of growth
Although she’s never studied or worked here, Cathy Buck possesses a powerful understanding of what binds her to Mount Mary, personally and professionally. Buck joined the Mount Mary Board of Trustees in 2011, approximately the same time that she became president of Froedtert Hospital, an academic medical center affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin. She was keenly aware that her hospital and Mount Mary shared the goal of building the diverse workforce of tomorrow, particularly in health care professions predominantly held by women. She was herself an example of how a woman could rise through the ranks, having begun her career as a staff nurse in the transplant floor of what was County Hospital at the time. Through the years she became a manager, vice president of nursing and chief operating officer. Shortly after Buck joined the board, Eileen Schwalbach, president of Mount Mary at the time, started a nursing task force to explore the idea of a nursing degree at Mount Mary. Mount Mary’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing on-campus program opens this fall (see page 4). “These plans evolved over time to grow the program thoughtfully, slowly and steadily,” she said. This accomplishment coincides with Buck’s departure from the board, as trustees are limited to three three-year terms. She steps down from her years of service in June. Last summer, Buck retired from Froedtert, after serving nine years as president. While nursing is an obvious connection, Buck’s first involvement with Mount Mary began a number of years earlier, when another community supporter, Geneva Johnson, invited Buck to join the Women’s Leadership Institute. Here, Buck said her awareness and understanding of the value of all types of diversity grew tremendously. She brought this deepened understanding into her role on the board. “As the country struggles with issues of anti-racism, MMU has been ahead of the game,” Buck said. “As the Board of Trustees chair, I support an antiracism agenda.” She and the board have worked to set goals to diversify the board as well as the faculty. During the 2020-21 academic year, two diverse professionals joined the board and for 2021-22 there are more diverse individuals under consideration.
Cathy Buck, Chair, Board of Trustees
This has been a significant intentional initiative under Buck’s board leadership. “Such goals will be easier for MMU than for many institutions to achieve, because the foundation has been laid by the SSNDs, and the mission of Mount Mary has been active for a very long time.” This mission resonates with Buck, who attended the all-girls Immaculata High School operated by the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the north side of Chicago. Because of the strong imprint of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mount Mary is “engineered to be a different experience than anyplace else,” she said. “We have an awareness that we, as women, can do just about anything,” she said.” It is an incredible advantage being educated in this way in this day and age.” During retirement, Buck had planned an active agenda of volunteering extensively. And while she is still able to log in 30-40 miles of running each week and spend time reading, she’s honed her focus and spent more time devoted to leadership at Mount Mary. “I’ve had more time than ever to read and understand what is happening in the world,” she said. “In my desire to contribute and to make the world a better place, Mount Mary has taken that place for me.” Soon, her focus will change again. The mother of four adult sons, she has become a grandmother three times over in March. She will assist with child care for her grandchildren a few days a week, caring for the next generation in a different way than before. Meanwhile, Mount Mary will carry forth with the vision that Buck – for so many years and in so many ways – helped set into place.
From the President, continued from page 3 Pell grants go to the neediest students and thus are targeting those who can least afford an education rather than funding students who can afford to pay for their education. Thus it will cost taxpayers less. Pell grants go to students who attend both public and private colleges, thus maintaining a student’s choice of the academic environment in which they can thrive. This will allow students to retain the environment of the small private and religious colleges as an option. Doubling Pell will take us back to the 1970s model of education where assistance provided by both state and federal governments covered a high percentage of the cost of a college education. Over the years, neither federal nor state funding for education has kept pace with the costs, which has resulted in increases being laid on the backs of students and their families. In 1975-76, the maximum Pell grant covered more than three-fourths of the average four-year public university cost of attendance, including tuition, fees and living expenses. In 2019-20, the maximum Pell grant covered about 28% of the average four-year public university cost of attendance.1 According to the PEW Institute, in 1990 state per-student funding was almost 140% more than that of the federal government. In 2015 it was only 12% above federal levels.2 This decreasing aid has led to rising costs for students and universities and concern with student debt across both public and private institutions. The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) support doubling Pell Grants because they believe this is a more just and equitable way to give students choices to select the type of education experience they desire. I encourage you to seek information on this topic because it will become an important issue for the future of institutions like Mount Mary. Social mobility occurs best when universities like Mount Mary exist. Please know that we make every effort to make our education affordable and donated scholarship dollars are allocated very carefully to assist a large percentage of our students today. Mount Mary is proud to continue our tradition of educating women to transform the world. We can and will continue to do that with sound policies, as well as the financial and prayer support from all of you.
With gratitude,
1 https://www.collegeaidservices.net/2019/11/22/pell-grant-funding-then-and-now/ 2 https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/10/two-decadesof-change-in-federal-and-state-higher-education-funding
