Jacksonville State University (JSU) has nearly doubled enrollment for its nursing program this fall in anticipation of expanded classroom space. New classroom space is being created after a tornado in March damaged the nursing building, allowing for a redesign of the space which will accommodate more students.
Nursing program administrators at JSU are expanding enrollment to meet demand after having to turn away students for years due to lack of room. Insufficient space and faculty to keep up with student growth is a rising problem in nursing programs across the country, especially as demand for nurses has risen.
JSU is planning to expand nursing enrollment by 45 percent in the fall semester, which equates to 104 new nursing students starting in the fall. The program usually sees between 64 and 72 new students starting each fall. The nursing program will also add three new employees to teach more students.
Expanded nursing enrollment has also been partly due to an increase in the application rate. The university has worked with the community college system to recruit and increase enrollment. When the JSU nursing building reopens in the spring it will have four enlarged classrooms and more than 120 seats, plus the basic skills lab will be expanded to hold 20 hospital beds instead of 8.
To learn more about Jacksonville State University’s decision to nearly double nursing enrollment to meet industry demand, visit here.
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