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SUNY Empire State College was awarded $400,000 to develop a Bachelor of Science degree program in health science, a new program that will contribute to achieving SUNY’s system-wide completion agenda of awarding 150,000 degrees each year by 2020, officials said.

Modeled after the college’s successful RN-to -B.S. in Nursing program, SUNY Empire’s new bachelor’s degree will provide a clear, direct and efficient path for radiologic technicians, emergency medical technicians, dental hygienists, physical therapy assistants and many others who have earned an associate and want to complete their bachelor’s degree, according to the college.

“The B.S. in health science is the latest example of SUNY Empire’s dedicated faculty and staff using innovative, alternative and flexible approaches to higher education that transform people and communities through rigorous programs that connect individuals’ unique and diverse lives to their personal learning goals,” said Associate Professor Kim Stote, who was a member of the team that developed the successful proposal. “The B.S. in health science is designed to promote seamless academic progression for students moving from the associate to completion of a bachelor’s degree.”

Graduates of this program can become direct-care providers, managers, educators or individuals focused on state-population health issues.

“The program will also take advantage of the college’s partnerships with SUNY’s community colleges and several hospitals and health-care organizations throughout the state,” said Merodie A. Hancock, president of the college. “Having this new bachelor’s degree in place will mean more and better job prospects for people working in health care, and their families, across the state. Better-educated employees, in turn, will mean improved health care for New Yorkers.”

The college’s School of Nursing already has articulation agreements with 26 of SUNY’s 30 community colleges. Part of the new program calls for the college to work with its current community college partners to extend the agreements to include health sciences.

Officials said the college will leverage other existing partnerships which currently provide a path to degree completion for radiologic technicians, including at Catholic Health System on Long Island, Glens Falls Hospital, Hudson Mohawk Health Education Center in Glens Falls, New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, Peconic Bay Medical Center Radiology in Riverhead, Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs and Champlain Valley Radiology, in order to begin the process of scaling up the new program across the state.

Desiree Drindak, SUNY Empire State College’s interim director of the award-winning Office of Veteran and Military Education, was appointed president-elect for the New York State Advisory Council on Military Education.

“Serving as a leader of the New York State Advisory Council on Military Education is a great honor,” said Drindak. “New York state veteran and military students, and their dependents, have done so much for our nation and they deserve to be represented in statewide discussions on higher education.”

The advisory council focuses on three areas:

• Evaluating and restructuring policies related to acceptance and transfer of credit for veterans, military students and their adult family members.

• Enhancing the educational aspirations of the military populations in the state.

• Making educational programs accessible in cost, location and scheduling.

Unemployment insurance reforms started in 2013 have resulted in additional savings for New York state employers in terms of their contributions, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Employers have already saved an estimated $200 million through the early repayment of federal debt with each saving, on average, an estimated total of $1,200 or $84 per employee, according to Cuomo. As a result, the unemployment insurance contribution rate schedules have been adjusted downward, further reducing costs and saving employers up to an additional $42.80 per employee.

Additionally, the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which pays out benefits to claimants and is funded by employer contributions, ended the year with a positive balance for the first time in six years.

“Our commitment to reducing the cost of doing business in New York is paying dividends in growing our economy,” said Cuomo. “The unemployment insurance reforms we put in place in 2013, coupled with record jobs growth and controlled government spending have resulted in year-over-year savings to businesses. Now, New York businesses can reinvest these savings into their operations and employees, further strengthening our economy.”

Unemployment Insurance contribution rates paid by employers are determined by their individual experience in the system and by the level of reserves in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Over the past five years, employers paid higher contribution rates because the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund’s deficit and the Great Recession’s high unemployment rates, state officials said.

Now that reforms have made the fund more sustainable, employers whose use of the system has been consistent in recent years will be assigned a lower rate.

SUNY Empire State College was awarded
$400,000 to develop a Bachelor of Science degree
program in health science, a new program that
will contribute to achieving SUNY’s system-wide
completion agenda of awarding 150,000 degrees
each year by 2020, officials said.

Modeled after the college’s successful RN-to -B.S.
in Nursing program, SUNY Empire’s new bachelor’s
degree will provide a clear, direct and efficient path
for radiologic technicians, emergency medical technicians,
dental hygienists, physical therapy assistants
and many others who have earned an associate and
want to complete their bachelor’s degree, according
to the college.

“The B.S. in health science is the latest example
of SUNY Empire’s dedicated faculty and staff using
innovative, alternative and flexible approaches
to higher education that transform people and
communities through rigorous programs that connect
individuals’ unique and diverse lives to their
personal learning goals,” said Associate Professor
Kim Stote, who was a member of the team that developed
the successful proposal. “The B.S. in health
science is designed to promote seamless academic
progression for students moving from the associate
to completion of a bachelor’s degree.”

Graduates of this program can become directcare
providers, managers, educators or individuals
focused on state-population health issues.