“This is one of the shining moments in Dyersburg State’s educational programming,” said Dr. Evelynn Miller, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at Dyersburg State Community College.
Dr. Miller was speaking of the academic success of 13 non-traditional nursing students who earned places on the DSCC Dean’s List and honor roll for their summer 2012 coursework.
These students are participating in the grant-funded two-year associate of applied science in nursing degree program offered by DSCC for those affected by job losses due to the closing of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Union City.
To be considered for admission to the DSCC nursing program, the students were first required to complete nine hours of general education requirements at the college and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. Altogether, 24 students affected by the Goodyear closure began their nursing coursework on Oct. 3, 2011. They will complete the program and graduate in May 2013.
Dr. Miller continued, “Many of these students had been out of school for years or had never attended college. Members of the DSCC faculty, including Dr. Brian Wells and Linda Weeks from arts and sciences, as well as Amy Johnson and Debra Harris from nursing, collaborated to develop creative programming to facilitate student success, including critical thinking labs and guided study sessions. Susan Randolph, DSCC mathematics lab coordinator, was instrumental in the students’ success through the math lab study sessions she hosted during the first semester. There were five students who would not have been admitted to the program but for her willingness to come early and stay late in the math lab so they could finish the modules within the deadline.”
To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours of college level courses during the semester and earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the semester. Among those who made the summer semester Dean’s List for their work in the special nursing class were Sandra Joyce Beasley of Union City; Kimberly Gurien of Obion; Richard Hicks of Martin; and James Spaulding of Troy.
Those earning a spot on the honor roll must complete at least 12 hours of college level courses during the semester and earn a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49 during the semester. Nursing students named to the summer honor roll were Cindy Anderson of Dyersburg; Kurt Ferrell of Sharon; Lisa Henry of Gleason; Keisha Hunter, Aby Morris, Linda Stokes and Frankie Underwood, all of Union City; Gerald Hurt of Rutherford; David LaMastus of Hornbeak; Mary Helen Maddox of Fulton; David Thomas of Paris; and Denise Walters of Dyer.
This special nursing career opportunity is being funded by the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation, a federally-funded program that provides assistance to workers affected by job loss due to increased imports or a shift in production to a foreign country. In addition, the Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board was approved for a National Emergency Grant to provide support services to these Goodyear employees as well as training services for eligible family members.
Goodyear permanently closed its doors in Union City July 11, 2011. At the time of plant closure, 1,925 employees from West Tennessee and Kentucky were immediately out of work.
For more information about nursing education at DSCC, contact Dr. Miller at (731) 286-3390 or by email at eamiller@dscc.edu.