BGSU Firelands to launch new programs

HURON TWP. — Two new bachelor's degrees will arrive at BGSU Firelands this fall.The college will also debut a third program later this year for people with developmental disabilities. Below is a breakdown of each program.Business One bachelor's degree will be in technical and applied studies with a small business concentration and be offered exclusively at the regional campus.This specific program is a flexible, interdisciplinary degree-completion program designed to prepare graduates to successfully develop, launch and run a small business, or to contribute to the success of an existing business as an employee, university officials said."This program was created in direct response to local employers and economic development stakeholders and it was designed with the workforce needs of the Firelands region in mind," Dean Andy Kurtz said.Added BGSU Firelands associate Dean Kate Dailey: "The delivery of this program is flexible with a combination of online and face-to-face components. It features service learning and internship experiences that won't pull students away from their existing jobs."Once enrolled in the new four-year program, students will learn about continuous innovation, Lean principles for business operation, asset management, leadership skills, public relations and more related to small business management. The program also includes a community-based learning seminar and a senior capstone field experience. Additionally, students will spend an entire semester working on one business project focused on delivering customer value, leading to Lean certification.The Anthony Linz Respiratory Care Lab at BGSU Firelands in Huron. Four-year respiratory care students, who will be admitted this fall, will get to use this facility within the newly renovated George Mylander Hall. Respiratory care programIn another new four-year program only offered at BGSU Firelands, respiratory care students will be able to use the recently renovated George Mylander Hall, along with nursing, radiologic technology, diagnostic sonography students. The renovations totaled 15,500 square feet and cost $4 million.The bachelor's degree in respiratory care was recently approved by Bowling Green State University's board of trustees and state higher education officials. Right now, BGSU Firelands offers an accredited associate's degree in that program.Program director Rod Roark said the two-year and the four-year programs will overlap the first two years. The final respiratory care associate's degree class will be admitted in fall 2019 and graduate in December 2020."We're excited to move our program to the bachelor's level as the role and scope of practice for respiratory therapists has expanded and advanced," Roark said. "For many years, we expanded our curriculum to meet these advances within the associate degree. This resulted in a bulging of degree requirements and an increase in the time it takes for a student to graduate."The American Association for Respiratory Care desires a bachelor's degree as a minimum to start their career, and more employers seek candidates with four-year degrees as well, Roark said. Many university officials, including respiratory faculty and BGSU administration, supported this recommendation.David and Jacquelyn Clark are pictured with BGSU Firelands Dean Andy Kurtz at Bowling Green State University's board of trustees meeting, where their program, the Clark Inclusive Scholars program, was approved for BGSU's regional campus.Clark Inclusive Scholars programThis program is designed for students with developmental disabilities and was established through a donation from area residents Jacquelyn and David Clark, who are former executives of n2y, a printing and publishing company for special education curriculum.In the certificate program, students will spend about 20 hours, or more, on BGSU Firelands' campus attending classes; gaining work experience; receiving individualized instruction and support; and socializing with peers.Their learning experiences will focus on developing academic, social and career skills that can lead to competitive employment, meaningful careers and community membership, according to officials.Upon finishing the program, it's expected students will either be employed or continue their education for an associate's degree. Six students will be admitted in the upcoming fall semester and ten new students will be admitted per year afterward.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodTwo four-year programs in technical and applied studies and respiratory care, along with the Clark Inclusive Scholars program, will begin this fall at BGSU Firelands.