CENTRAL — Dr. Todd Voss, president of Southern Wesleyan University, spoke to members of the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce on Thursday about new programs and services soon to be available at the university including the school’s first ever doctoral program.

“I have to start off talking about my grandkids and this show they watch, Paw Patrol,” he said. “If you’ve never seen it, it’s this cartoon about these dogs who go out and help people — but I bring it up because of their slogan. On every show they all yell out ‘Paw Patrol is on a roll’ — and so are we.

“SWU is on a roll,” he said.

According to Voss, the school is about to begin a slew of new programs for students in both online and traditional in class formats.

“This Fall we’re starting a registered nurse program, an RN to BSN program,” he said. “It’s a fully online program that was actually built from the ground up. We’re not copying anybody here.”

Voss said the university spent time going into hospitals to find out what the actual needs of the industry were before designing the program.

“There’s an interesting idea,” he said. “Actually go to these places and see what it is they want and need. That’s what we did.”

Voss’ hopes are that current nurses working with an Associate’s Degree will be able to take advantage of SWU’s new program and be able to advance their careers.

Also new to the campus is an early childhood education degree that was launched in January.

“It’s a fascinating bachelor’s program,” Voss said. “It’s one of those state and regional issues that we have a lot of folks who have an associate’s degree in but not a bachelor’s.”

Voss said the early education bachelor’s program — also offered online — is the only program of its kind that is being currently sanctioned and promoted by the state of South Carolina.

“Go figure that,” Voss joked. “They want separation of church and state when they want it — but when we have a program they want, they come to us.”

The last new program at SWU mentioned by Voss was the university’s first doctoral program in education.

“This is a big deal, it moves us from a three tier institution to a five tier,” said Voss. “It took a little while for the Board of Trustees to figure out my plan, they had a lot of questions. But what it came down to is this is the future.

“Our first candidates will be walking across the stage in 2020 or so,” said Voss. “That’s going to be an exciting day.”

Dr. Todd Voss, president of SWU, unveils new academic programs coming to the university.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_031.jpgDr. Todd Voss, president of SWU, unveils new academic programs coming to the university. Kasie Strickland | The Sentinel-Progress

https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_SWU-logo.jpgKasie Strickland | The Sentinel-Progress

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.