MAYHEW -- The State College Board of the Institutions of Higher Learning has granted final approval for an Associate Degree Nursing program at East Mississippi Community College's Golden Triangle campus. The unanimous decision came Thursday morning during a regular IHL meeting at Alcorn State University.

"We appreciate the board's support of our new ADN program, and the support of the medical community throughout the application process. With an aging baby boomer population and a critical nursing shortage, it's going to be a good thing for the state," said EMCC President Dr. Rick Young.

"It's also going to be a good thing for students. Existing nursing programs can't accommodate all the students who want to enter ADN programs. We also offer a more affordable alternative for students who might not be able to afford the tuition at other nursing schools."

East Mississippi Community College's ADN staff invites the public to attend an open house for the new program Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The celebration will be at the Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence, Seminar Room 134.

Pat Clowers, a master's degree-level nurse, is director of EMCC's current Licensed Practical Nursing program. She will also head up the new Associate Degree Nursing program. Joining Clowers on the college's ADN staff are:

--         Dr. Lisa South of Mathiston, who comes to EMCC from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. She also earned her doctorate in nursing from UAB. Her area of specialization is child health and pediatric oncology. She has 16 years of teaching experience and has served as a course coordinator of child health nursing for 15 years.

--        Rosie Wilbon of Macon has a master's degree in nursing. She comes to EMCC from Macon Primary Care. A major in the U.S. Army Reserves, Wilbon conducts EMT and medic training for the Army and has eight years of experience as a family nurse practitioner.

--         Tonsha Emerson of Caledonia, an EMCC instructor who is transferring from LPN program to the ADN program.  Emerson has a master's degree in nursing and 10 years of teaching experience. Her area of specialization is nursing education, community and mental health nursing.

--         Debbie Treloar of Mantee, who comes to EMCC from Holmes Community College. Treloar is a family nurse practitioner with 13 years of experience teaching at the associate degree level. For the last five years, she has taught maternal child theory, supervised clinical internships and served as a course coordinator. Treloar is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

"It was almost exactly a year ago when the State College Board gave us permission to begin work on an ADN program at EMCC, and my phone has been ringing off the hook ever since," Clowers said. "Everyone is excited and wanting to know about the prerequisites and how the program will be structured."

The first ADN students at East Mississippi Community College will start classes in January. The deadline to apply is expected to be in early December. EMCC plans to build an Allied Health facility, serving both the college and the community, on 12 acres of land near the Columbus Industrial Park.

"In the meantime, we are physically shifting programs around at our Golden Triangle campus to make room for the ADN program," said Dr. Melanie Sanders, associate dean of instruction.

"We're restructuring and renovating spaces, which include an additional 10-bed training lab, a new computer lab and lecture hall and a simulation lab where students can practice the skills they're learned in the classroom. And, of course, we look forward to moving ahead with the Allied Health building, which will allow us to expand the college's health care offerings even more."

Dr. Steve Vacik, vice president of instruction, said the decision to push for an ADN program speaks to EMCC's responsiveness to the needs of the community, region and nation.

"The commitment in terms of physical and financial resources is substantial," Vacik said. "But we are confident that the outcome -- more qualified nurses to serve the people of Mississippi -- is worth all the time and effort it has taken to bring this program from conception to reality."

For more information about EMCC's Associate Degree Nursing program, call (662) 243-1910.