CCHS Opens New Facility—
A
Gift From the Community
Concord, NC, January
9, 2004 — In
direct response to the growing shortage of nurses nationwide, the
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences has opened its new facility on
the campus of NorthEast Medical Center. The 68,000 sq. ft. edifice
was constructed by funds that continue to be donated from the local
community. Total project costs are $10.3 million.
A history of service and training excellence
Originally
founded in February of 1942 as a nursing school to support U.S.
medical efforts during World War II, the first class of
16 students began their three-year education regimen to become
registered nurses. The following 60+ years have produced more
than 2,000 healthcare professionals in career offerings that,
now in addition to nursing, includes Surgical Technicians,
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Medical Assistants.
 |
Final
preparations underway for the new Cabarrus College
of Health
Sciences’ grand opening
event.
|
The school began offering the first two-year hospital based diploma
program in North Carolina during 1974 with all graduating nurses
receiving 100 percent pass rates on their licensure exams two
years later.
Beginning in 1989, graduates were awarded Associate in Science
Degrees along with their diplomas in nursing. In 1992, the school
marked its fiftieth anniversary by officially changing its name
to become the Louise Harkey School of Nursing in honor of its founder.
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
granted the nursing school regional accreditation for an Associate
Degree of Nursing in 1995, and the following year, the Harkey School
of Nursing became the academic cornerstone of the newly named Cabarrus
College of Health Sciences, which moved off the main hospital campus
to a new location in nearby Concord. The North Carolina General
Assembly gave the authority for the college to bestow baccalaureate
degrees in 1998 where today, it offers Bachelor of Science Degrees
in both Nursing and Health Services Management.
Currently, a remarkable 70 percent of those students graduating
from the school remain within a 75 mile radius of the Concord campus
where they work in various hospital departments, physician offices,
home care agencies, long-term care facilities and health-related
services.
In partnership with Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools,
the college houses the high school Health Academy program, which
provides opportunities for students to explore health careers.
Safeguarding patient needs
"
This college is truly a gift from this community to this community.
It will help to ensure the quantity and quality of healthcare professionals
well into the future. In addition, through educational preparation
of the students, we enable them to improve their quality of life," says
Anita Brown, Chancellor.
A recruiter’s dream
By
nearly doubling the classroom space of the former location, the
new campus facilities offering direct access to an award-winning
medical center is becoming an easy sell for prospective students. “The
new facility will enhance every aspect of the educational experience
at Cabarrus College,” says Mark Ellison, CCHS Director
of Admissions.
"The college offers a student-centered learning environment
with an average class size of 20 students, in addition to high
tech classrooms and state of the art labs. Located on the campus
of one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals, our graduates
have the knowledge and skills that are highly sought after by
the healthcare
providers in our region.” The traditions of community service and nursing excellence established
during the opening of that first nursing school in 1942 have taken
yet another giant leap forward. Designed to accommodate up to 500
students pursing a variety of healthcare professions, all indicators
point to the success that this new college facility is now poised
to deliver.
About Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences (www.cabarruscollege.edu)
is a fully accredited non-residential private college associated
with NorthEast Medical Center in Concord, NC. Cabarrus College
is unique in that it specializes in preparing students to enter
the health professions. CCHS offers associate of science degrees
in medical assisting, nursing, occupational therapy assisting
and surgical technology. A general Associate in Science degree
is also offered. Bachelor of Science degree completion programs
in health services
Contact Information:
Lee Brower, Marketing & Public Relations Director
Northeast Medical Center
300 Church Street, North Concord, NC 28025
(p) 704-403-1449
|
