Anybody know what's going on with Augusta State University?

sharzaejones · Mar 16, 2012

I am a current GHSU CNL student. We got an email yesterday saying the Augusta State students will begin taking classes on the GHSU campus in Spring 2012. We really dont have much information about whats going to happen.

Makahu · Mar 16, 2012

No, we don't know much other than what's in the news and on the website, unfortunately. I'll be starting the MCG/GHSU BSN program this summer. Even as a lowly undergrad =-) I am concerned about the possible negative effects the merge might have on us all. As sharzaejones mentioned, all students recently received an email stating, "...ASU students will be on the ASU campus during fall semester '12, and on the GHSU campus spring semester '13 and thereafter."

There's just not much more info than that right now. I'm definitely concerned about the overall effects of this merge though. Will tuition increase? Will quality of education decrease? What will happen to the school's reputation? These question as of yet remain to be unaddressed by those heading the decision...

Shipnet · Mar 17, 2012

Yes, I saw some info about that In the paper today. I wonder if i am going to be applying to the asu nursing program or the ghsu program...I had been hoping to originally apply to the CNL program, sharzaejones, but I happened to find a post that you participated in where everyone was so nervous about getting accepted, and I am about 99% sure I won't get into the masters program (I have a 3.52 gpa and several B's in prerequisite classes). Also, I would like to someday get a Masters in pediatrics and I don't think I can do that without getting my second bachelors in nursing....Thoughts? Ps I am very glad that the ASU students are going to be able to finish their classes. I was so upset when I read that the girls were crying when they found out the program might be going away a few weeks ago.

sharzaejones · Mar 17, 2012

Shipnet, your 3.52 GPA is higher than most people in the current CNL program....dont worry!

reteheng · Mar 18, 2012

I thought I would respond, because I am in a bit of a unique situation regarding the two. I am currently a first semester student in ASU's BSN program, and we received an e-mail yesterday notifying us that the official consolidation between the two programs would take place at the end of Fall 2012. So, Spring of 2013 would be the first semester where we would be on the GHSU campus, and nursing classes would no longer be taken on the ASU campus. We have been told that our students graduating this semester (Spring 2012) and Fall 2012s would not be affected at all. My class (beginning Spring 2012, graduating Fall 2013) has been told that we would retain all our faculty and staff, and would not be "consolidated" into the BSN class at GHSU before we graduate. I have also been told by other people in my class that they know people that have been accepted for the upcoming Fall 2012 semester into ASU BSN, so I don't know what is happening with that, if you were told they are not currently accepting. From the ASU perspective, many of my classmates are worried about tuition increases, fee increases, what happens to our faculty and staff, and changing campuses. For us, we will have exactly 1/2 of our BSN at the ASU campus, and 1/2 at GHSU, so it will be interesting, to say the least.

The unique component of the situation, is that my girlfriend is also currently a CNL student at GHSU, and will be a part of the class graduating in Fall 2012, so essentially, they remain unaffected. As far as anything that she's told me they've learned, the CNL program will continue unchanged into the future. The only difference would be the name of the school associated with it (which at this point, no one knows what the new name will be). So if you plan on becoming a CNL, there is essentially no effect by the merger, with the exception of what the name of the university on your degree will be. If you plan on becoming a BSN applicant, I'm not sure what either ASU or GHSU will tell you at this point. I know for a fact that ASU admits in Fall and Spring, and GHSU only admits once, in May. So depending on the timing of when you want to start, those admissions departments would have the best information on you. At the moment, it seems they *plan* on "grandfathering" in the currently enrolled students at each institution, and having them functionally remain separate until we graduate. We've even heard that we graduate, we can choose to retain an ASU diploma if we wish. However, since my class is scheduled to graduate a year after the official merger, only time will tell what will actually happen to all of us. The same could be said for the current BSN candidates at GHSU.

FYI, my girlfriend enjoys the CNL program thoroughly, and is learning a lot, but it is definitely lives up to the "accelerated" billing. As for my experience at ASU, I find it to be challenging as well, and I enjoy having a smaller class, and easier access to my faculty. I also have friends that are graduates of the GHSU BSN that enjoyed that program as well. Overall, I think you'd be fine with whatever route you pick.

Shipnet · Mar 18, 2012

Wow, thank you for sharing all of that information!! Yall are definitely the most valuable resources I have found by far! Reteheng, because you are earning your bachelors, you are eligible for acquiring your NP at the time of your choosing, if you so desire. Because your girlfriend is getting her CNL, if she chooses to get her NP someday, will she have to backtrack and get her BSN before she begins the NP classes? Perhaps there is some kind of waiver ghsu has for students who want to take that route?

reteheng · Mar 19, 2012

I don't believe that she will have to backtrack at all, because the CNL degree is an MSN degree. I think the point of contention is, if you've already taken Master's level nursing classes, and want to go back for say an NP, would the classes from the CNL MSN transfer, or would you have to take ALL of the classes in the NP program, just like someone that had a BSN only. We are actually kind of dealing with that question, because we both are planning on going to CRNA school.

Basically it all depends on where you want to go, some CRNA programs allow you to transfer some credits in, if you've already achieved them at an MSN level, but mostly only nursing theory type stuff, not any Pharmacology or "core" subjects. Some only allow like 6 hours or so, some do not allow any at all, and you are required to take all of the courses in the program, regardless if you've already had some MSN level credits. I would assume the same would be true of NP. But I think it definitely varies from program to program.

reteheng · Mar 19, 2012

My girlfriend adds that it's funny, because it seems she gets this a lot. For some reason, it seems to confuse people, and that they seem to think that the CNL degree doesn't have the same pre-requisite components for ADN programs that a BSN programs does. Long story short, CNL is an MSN program. The curriculum and clinicals are the same as a BSN program, and in fact, they even do more clinical hours than the BSN program at GHSU. On top of that, they have research and leadership component classes that are NOT in the BSN curriculum, and they do all this in 16 months vs. 24 months.

She also says that everyone is tired, haha. I concur that the same goes for our program as well, it just is what it is with nursing school, no matter the shape or form. I will say that, if you plan on going to NP school, I know from her that they are basically begging the CNL students to come back and take NP or CRNA at GHSU, and would even count 500 hours of their clinical towards the 1-2 years experience needed to apply. So, trust me, while I find my program worthwhile and I like it a lot, there's a lot of positives for the CNL program.

reteheng · Mar 19, 2012

*APN programs

Shipnet · Mar 21, 2012

That is awesome. Does your girlfriend know if ghsu gives tours for people who are interested in the cnl program? I went on one once before, but it was for the medical illustration program... I haven't seen any info for the cnl program giving tours or anything similar. Mostly everything I know about it's from reading this website!