Curriculum and External Frame Factors - Essay Example

? CURRICULUM AND EXTERNAL FRAME FACTORS Introduction Despite being founded so many years ago since the late nineteenth century, Trinity Washington University became a fully-fledged university in the year 2004. The university college specialize in offering four basic graduate programs which are in four different schools including the School of ‘nursing and health professionals’, the ‘school of professional studies’, ‘school of education’ as well as the ‘college of arts and sciences’ and is found in Washington DC. Besides offering the undergraduate courses, the university offers postgraduate programs and offers distance learning through satellite classes. It is a hetero-sex university college although women form the larger percentage when compared to the men population of the students. II. External Frame factors The campus is located in a safe and supportive environment appropriate for the students, staff as well as to the general faculty operations. Industries are stable and have history of financial support to the institution and its employees. The public and private school systems’ provide graduate education programs for the institution and have a reputation of high quality education programs. The commuter students enjoy accessible public transport services into and out of the city at reasonable costs. Moreover, community facilities as well as other public services are at the reach of the students and this ascertains the quality of education that is offered within the institution. Besides commendable learning environment, the institution is situated at proximity to recreation parks, which are very important for the student’s leisure activities. Moreover, the government has been very instrumental in offering supportive services to the institution and ensuring that the public enjoy the learning facilities offered within the institution as part of its basic responsibility towards the public. Key sectors driving the economy will continue to be the federal government, technology, construction, international business, and hospitality (City Data website, nd). Trinity University has a higher enrollment of Washington DC residents compared to all other private universities in the city or region. The university college is at proximity with public transport infrastructure with road and rail transport being the predominant means of commuting. Transportation services through roads by buses and taxis are easily accessible. Besides the commuter students, Trinity nursing college has boarding facilities though a few in numbers and the institution offers medical and counseling services. The Washington DC’s government acknowledges and recognizes the contributions of the institutions within the locality; for instance, the 2011, pay roll records indicate that about 40% of the annual payroll was from the local residents who were employees to the institution. The nursing college has a total employee population of 221 persons from within the city and the environment. Besides the direct contributions of the college to the lives of the city dwellers, about 2,190 Trinity graduates live within the city and contribute to the welfare and development of the city through talents, civic engagement as well as through the tax income by the government. Their influence in general welfare through formal employment as well as voluntary activities within the local organizations cannot be overemphasized (Trinity Washington University Annual Report, 2011). The population within the city and the environment reflect a mix of cultural and ethnic characteristics with a wide spread of age groups; from the elderly to the children. The populations within Washington exhibit traits of relatively good income levels; with majority receiving average incomes while some receive above average incomes. The general poverty levels are low and there are humanitarian organizations which run programs targeting assisting the poor from within. Washington DC has a great diversity in terms of cultural affiliation with a heterogeneous population. According to a survey done in 2011 (Census Bureau Community Survey), Washington DC was found to have the highest average household income in the nation with approximately annual income of $86,680. In addition, the study revealed that only about 8% of the households within DC lived below the poverty line (Gardner, 2012). The Trinity university college has also been instrumental in supporting higher education within the locality through participating in the DC tuition assistance grant programs with approximate accumulated grants into the program of about $13,739,298 since 2001.The value of the tuition grants advanced by the college to Washington residents at THEARC approximates $2,221,380 since the program was devised (Trinity Washington University website, 2013). According to United States Census Bureau, from 2007 to 2011, the percentage of persons aged above 25 years with Bachelor's degree or higher diploma in Washington was about 50.5% US national average. There are no known plans that could conflict with the school’s program in the future. Various Universities within Washing DC offer nursing programs. Nevertheless, though there are number of universities and colleges that offer nursing programs in the area, Trinity University College attracts more students especially from the Washington DC environs. This is explained partially by the high quality nursing programs offered within the institution as well as the learning support that the government advances to DC residents for higher learning. Key politicians and community leaders support the institutions and have working relationship with the people within the educational system. Students especially the resident students know the government of Washington DC City for its supportive nature from its environs. Besides, the local government through the Mayer is quoted to emphasize its commitment to provide financial support to the needy students within the reach of its influence (Office of the Mayor, 2012). There are ample spaces currently and for the future for student nursing placements in the various health care systems and settings. A recent trend within the health care system has seen a rise in private health care provision as compared to the public health care. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of nursing professionals in Washington had grown by 20% owing to the increase in health care provision facilities. This led to the commendable increase in the overall employment within Washington, which has persisted ever since (Nursing Schools in WDC, nd). Professionalism has taken shape within the region in the medical field and through competitive learning programs from such schools as Trinity University and therefore this shows that professionalism is highly appreciated within the region. According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, there is an upward trend in the nursing statistics of employment and projects a positive trend in future (Bureau of labor Statistics, 2012). Two major nursing organizations within the region have competitive nurses who match the needs of the area concerning medical practice. Professional nursing organizations in DC-MD_VA area are Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington DC, Home Health Nurses Organization, Nurse Practitioner Association of the District of Columbia, and the District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) among others (DCNA website, nd). More and more nurses have bachelor’s degree or started taking BSN because it is usually preferred when applying for employment opportunities. Eleven schools offer masters program, six bachelors, two for doctoral, and each for certificate and associate programs (Nursing Schools in WDC, nd). The nursing education program within Washington DC meets the state board of regulations and has been approved or is eligible for approval. The ‘Middle States Commission on Higher Education’ has accredited Trinity University College to offer professional training to nurses and related health practitioners and has consistently reaffirmed Trinity’s accreditation since 1921. Moreover, Trinity college nursing programs are accredited by the ‘Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’ (CCNE) and have conditional approval from the Washington Board of Nursing (D.C. BON). The institution and the nursing programs are in a critical needing condition for financial support and there is either guaranteed state support or substantial endowments funds for the future. Based on a review of financial ratios provided by the University, improvement has occurred in favorable ratios due to improved operating performance over the five year period ended June 30, 2010. Reviewing the audited Statements of Activities, gross tuition and fees revenue increased from $21 million in 2007 to $28.9 million in 2010 or by 37.6%, with scholarships and grants increasing from $4 million in 2007 to $6.2 million in 2010, or by 55% .The University realized a 42% enrollment growth from 2005 to the year 2010. According to Robert Snyder (2011), based on reading Trinity Washington University’s periodic review report, independent auditors’ reports, financial ratio analysis and other supplemental information, the University appears to be in very good overall financial condition. The University has a solid financial planning and assessment process, which is extremely important in guiding the institution through changing and challenging economic conditions. III. Trinity Nursing Program The external environment within which the university college runs provides strategic benefits, which supports the running and perpetuity of the institution. Based on the geographical location, the university college is appropriately located within a city where it is at the reach of basic learning facilities and accompanying services such as the transport services, security and the security services. On the issue of demographics, the institution strategically lies within a very populated region, which provides the institution with the students as well as the required staff. The diversity with cultural orientation of the institution makes its programs very competitive not only within the neighborhood but also within the entire region at large. Besides the physical location of the institution within a city, the institution enjoys proximity to political influence of the city governance under the leadership of the mayor. This is strategic in that the institution has an active role in decision making as well as policy formulation and implementation within the city. Beside, the health care services are critical to the populations living at the proximity, which necessitates the continuation of the learning for future purposes. Besides, literature review illustrates that there is a surging growing population of the young, which postulates that the nursing services will continuously be needed within the region and elsewhere. Nursing as a profession has uncountable benefits, the requirement can never be assumed, and as such, the learning institution and the programs offered are bound to be continued. Reasoning from the regulation and accreditation by the nursing regulating bodies, the programs offered by the institution are bound to be continued due to the reason that the institution has received accreditation to imply that the programs offered are up to standard. Moreover, the financial management by the institution management has received approval in the previous audit reports and thus this implies that the management is commendable. Moreover, through outsourcing of funds, the university college managements to offer quality learning programs and services which boosts earning through an enabling environment. The overall outcomes by the nursing programs offered by Trinity nursing university are satisfactory as shown and thus require no restructuring or even introduction of new learning programs. IV. Conclusion In sum, learning at the Trinity nursing university has been effective in producing nursing professionals owing to the strategic characteristics that the institution exhibits. Moreover, the low competition in the nursing education within the region strategically places the institution on a favorable position to offer the teaching services competently. The demographic characteristic of the geographical region within which the institution is located is very favorable as regards creating an environment, which is conducive for teaching and understanding the nursing curriculum being offered. The fact that the college is located within the city puts the facility at an advantage in providing necessary services and requirements for student learning and delivery of the staff in matters of teaching. Public services such as transport, security as well as recreation are among other characteristic features that create an enabling environment for academic excellence. Besides these services, the governance of the region enjoys stability in politics, which results to delivery of the necessary facilities for the communities living around, and in extension Trinity fraternity. Having received accreditation from monitoring bodies, the school is seen to offer competitive professional program in nursing. Moreover, the running of the institution by the management is excellent as seen through the financial reports as reported. This confirms sound management practices of finances and which encourages government and other stakeholders in education sector to extend the financial services required for the progress of the learning and the institution at large. REFERENCES Anonymous, (nd). Nursing Schools In Washington DC. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/nursing-schools-in-washington-dc/ Anonymous, (2012). Registered Nurses Work Environment. Bureau of Labor Statistics Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from Anonymous, (nd). The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA). DCNA website. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from Gardner, J. (2012). Richest US City: Washington DC Tops List, $86,680 Median Household Income. CP. N. America. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from Gray C. V. (2012). Mayor Gray and OSSE Announce First-Ever DC College Fund. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from Snyder, R. (2011). Financial Reviewer Report. Institution: Trinity Washington University. 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