Salisbury University's Respiratory Therapy Program Comes to USG This Fall
ROCKVILLE, MD--One of the most in-demand health professions in the country will now be taught by Salisbury University at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).
Starting fall 2008, SU will offer its Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy at USG. This collaboration is the first between SU and the USG campus in Montgomery County, which offers more than 60 degree programs through nine University System of Maryland (USM) campuses. Some $325,000 has been earmarked in the state budget to help support the expansion of the respiratory therapy program.
"Salisbury University and the Universities at Shady Grove have long sought this partnership, and I am grateful for the funding from the Governor and the General Assembly which make it possible," said SU President Janet Dudley-Eshbach. "Traditionally, Salisbury University has been popular with Montgomery County students and I think this will be a terrific fit. This partnership also helps in addressing a critical healthcare need for our state and the metropolitan Washington area."
"We are delighted to welcome Salisbury University and it's respected Respiratory Therapy program to Montgomery County," said Dr. Stewart Edelstein, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University System of Maryland and Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove. "Through our collaboration, Respiratory Therapy will now be available at two USM campuses in our state, which makes this program more accessible for students."
As part of the program, SU has signed an articulation agreement with Montgomery College where students may take their first two years of general studies. This would allow students from the Montgomery County region planning to earn their baccalaureate in respiratory therapy to live at home and save money, said Dr. Robert Joyner, chair of the SU Department of Health Sciences and director of its Respiratory Therapy Program.
SU has signed affiliation agreements with Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and Children's National Medical Center, among others, where students will perform their clinical studies. The USG program will offer the same high-quality curriculum as at the parent campus. Classroom instruction will be taught live at Salisbury and Shady Grove; complemented with bi-directional interactive Internet transmission to connect both campuses. Applicants must meet regular SU admissions requirements and pay SU tuition. The students at USG will have all the privileges of those enrolled on the main campus, and will graduate with a SU diploma.
Respiratory therapists are in such demand that hospitals often hire students while still in college, Joyner said. In 2007 mid-Atlantic region educational programs in respiratory therapy could not keep pace with hospital staffing needs. Montgomery College officials have told him that they are already receiving inquiries about the major, which will have an initial cohort of 10-20 students. The program at the SU campus currently has some 100 majors.
SU's nationally accredited respiratory therapy baccalaureate is one of some 50 nationwide and is the only one in Maryland.
The Universities at Shady Grove is an innovative model for delivering top-quality college degree programs. USG is not one university; instead it is a collaboration of nine leading public universities in Maryland offering more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Montgomery County. Established in 2000, USG serves more than 2,600 full- and part-time students. Participating USM partners include: Bowie State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland University College. More information on all of the undergraduate and graduate programs is available at www.shadygrove.umd.edu.
To find out more about the SU-USG program contact Dr. Joyner at 410-543-6365.
Media Contacts
Joe Bucci
301.738.6356 / jbucci@umd.edu
Susan Whyte Simon
240/994-6541 / swsimon@umd.edu