Gordon State College, Henry County Schools, Piedmont Henry Hospital Establish Community Innovation Partnership
By Karolina Philmon, GSC Marketing Manager
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Piedmont Henry Hospital North Tower Building, Gordon State College signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Henry County Schools and Piedmont Henry Hospital to form the Community Innovation Partnership regarding a nursing pathway program for Henry County dual-enrollment students. After the signing, there was a check presentation for $100K from the physicians at Piedmont Henry Hospital designated to the GSC Foundation for nursing scholarships.
“The state’s public colleges and universities have prioritized teaching students the skills they need to make an impact in Georgia’s workforce, especially in critical areas of need for our state such as healthcare,” said University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor, Sonny Perdue. “This partnership between Gordon State College, Henry County Schools and Piedmont Henry Hospital does just that, giving students a head start toward earning their college degree while learning the specialized skills that employers in their community need. USG is committed to student success, and this is another example of how we grow the state’s workforce and help Georgians succeed.”
The Community Innovation Partnership has grown out of GSC’s five-year strategic plan, “Building the Power of WE,” which is designed to strengthen community engagement and partnerships. This agreement was formulated with 13 school districts who are active members of GSC’s K-12 education ecosystem pipeline within the institution’s 14-county primary service region.
The mission behind the partnership is to provide a comprehensive approach to solving both educational and economic developmental needs. The education partners will jointly benefit from increased student attainment and therefore increase graduation rates, student satisfaction and engagement. The business sector partners will benefit from a dedicated pipeline of quality applicants, increased employee satisfaction and lower turnover. The program will afford the participants to complete their baccalaureate degree within two years. As a result, the program participants will have entered the workforce two years earlier, decreased the time of degree completion and reduced the overall cost of their college education.
“We are excited to play a significant role in this program and help shepherd the next generation of nurses into healthcare careers,” said Piedmont Henry Chief Nursing Officer, Paula Butts.
Under the agreement, the dual-enrollment students will complete up to 60 credits towards their associate degree during their sophomore, junior and senior years through a combination of dual credit courses taken at one of the Henry County School District high schools and GSC. Program participants completing the program should finish their Associate of Science degree parallel with the completion of their high school diploma. Up to five Henry County dual-enrollment students who complete the program and meet the admission criteria will gain guaranteed admittance to GSC Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program.
“Gordon State College is thrilled to partner with innovative leaders who are ready to directly impact the need for 122,000 healthcare workers in the State of Georgia by 2025,” said GSC President, Dr. Kirk A. Nooks. “With the healthcare infrastructure in mind, our collaborative work builds a solid pipeline of healthcare professionals who are equipped to enter the workforce sooner with lower debt and a desire to remain in the region.”
Over a dozen designees, representatives and attendees were present to witness the MOU agreement signing. Following the signing, a special presentation of the $100K contribution check was presented by Lily Henson, M.D., CEO of Piedmont Henry; GSC President Nooks; Montrese Adger Fuller, GSC vice president of advancement, external relations and marketing; Dr. Samantha Bishop, GSC director of nursing; Dr. Victor Vilchiz, GSC dean of School of Nursing, Health, and Natural Sciences; and Dr. Ravi Iyer, Piedmont Henry Hospital neonatal ICU medical director.
“I’d like to thank Piedmont Henry’s Medical Executive Committee for their generous donation,” Henson said. “This is a significant investment in the hospital and community, as well as in the lives of these students.”
On behalf of the GSC Foundation, Adger Fuller said they’re “very grateful about the generous level of support that has been provided by Piedmont Henry Hospital’s Medical Executive Committee. This transformational gift of scholarship support will impact many students in Henry County for many years to come.”
