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When it comes to college education, sometimes smaller might be better

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One of the topics at the recent governors conference held in Des Moines was the restructuring of our educational system to more effectively educate our future workforce. In my view, small colleges across the nation are the leaders in this endeavor. With 25 percent of college freshmen in the United States dropping out or failing to make it through their first year, serious discussions need to be held and successful models emulated.

The faculty and staff at small colleges care what happens to each and every student. You can’t get lost in the crowd, and even if there are two steps back for each step forward, the goal of a college degree can be achieved.

I have taught nursing for 23 years at Grand View College. Class sizes are rarely over 20 students, and faculty members view teaching as their top priority. In one of the first courses nursing students take, I ask them to write something they want me to know about themselves. Three-fourths of our students have transferred from large universities. It is not uncommon for them to report that they are used to cavernous lecture halls and are uncomfortable knowing that they must discuss and interact with classmates and faculty on a regular basis. Many are concerned about writing skills, as they have experience primarily with objective multiple-choice tests.

The assumption in the nursing program at Grand View is that all students bring life experiences to the classroom and can contribute. Frequently teachers place them in small groups so even the most introverted will have a voice. Students are expected to come to class, and if they don’t, they’re held accountable by the faculty.

Faculty members also are responsible for academic advising, and that process is not just about giving advice. The one-on-one relationship and the trust that develops between faculty and student are the keys to understanding why some students are stumbling. There are a myriad of day-to-day issues that mirror what goes on in the rest of the world: divorce, financial issues, substance abuse, eating disorders, and mental and physical health problems.

In most cases, referrals are made and students can become successful after counseling and treatment. Skills labs, such as math and writing, exist on most campuses. Persistence becomes the watchword.

At the end of the nursing program, focus groups are held with the graduates. Overwhelmingly, they tell us that the collaborative nature of their interactions with classmates, faculty and staff is the essential component to learning about the nursing profession.

My daughter arrived at her small college in Kenosha, Wis., in the fall of 2001. Four years later she graduated, even after switching her major. My son will leave for his freshman year at a small college in Portland, Ore., this fall. I am confident he will have a similar good experience.

Start looking at small colleges for your son or daughter. An educational experience there can make a difference in their future.

Jean Logan is a professor of nursing at Grand View College.