Clairon University

Clairon University

Clairon University

On Thursday, January 19, 2012, the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education approved a new online bachelor’s degree program that will be offered by the School of Nursing and Allied Health at Clarion University-Venango Campus beginning in fall 2012.

The Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Leadership degree is a bachelor’s degree-completion program for individuals who have earned associate degrees or completed accredited certificate or diploma programs in allied health fields. It will be of interest to allied health professionals such as respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, medical lab technicians, surgical technologists, dieticians, medical office assistants, dental professionals and others in similar fields, including programs offered at the Venango Campus and at other colleges and universities. The new degree program is offered online to accommodate the busy schedules of students including working professionals, who might otherwise be unable to realize their academic and career advancement goals while balancing work and family obligations.

The new degree will position graduates to assume roles in health services management, health care education and medical sales, among others. Business courses included in the curriculum will also prepare students for graduate education in health policy, health care administration, business administration, and other areas. Graduates of the new degree program will be well positioned to enter Clarion University’s online Master of Business Administration degree program if they choose.


“This new degree was developed in response to a need expressed by hospitals throughout western Pennsylvania and by our own graduates,” said Dr. Christopher M. Reber, executive dean of Venango Campus. “It’s also a perfect example of what we term a ‘stackable’ degree, whereby graduates can realize significant career advancement and resultant salary increases in a relatively short period of time by systematically progressing from a diploma or associate degree to bachelor’s and graduate degrees through online programs, often with tuition assistance from their employers.”
Demand for health care managers is projected to increase nationally by 16 percent through 2018. In Pennsylvania, it is estimated that openings for medical and health services managers will increase by 13,190 positions by 2014.

Aaron Rosen is a 2009 graduate of Clarion’s associate degree program in respiratory care, now a registered respiratory therapist working at UPMC Northwest and a clinical preceptor for Clarion’s respiratory care program. “I am thrilled to hear about this opportunity not only for myself and my own education and career, but for the other graduates in my position,” he said. “This program will open the door to more productive and beneficial roles within our local medical community.”

“As evidenced by the success of the medical imaging sciences program and applied technology programs, Clarion University-Venango Campus has found its niche in offering unique academic programs in high-demand fields,” said Renee Bloom, chair of the Department of Allied Health. “This degree will produce graduates who will function as hybrid health care professionals with business administration, clinical and liberal knowledge and skills-a mix that is highly practical for health care leadership roles.”

Future plans for the new degree program include exploring the addition of a track in education that will provide an option for students who are interested in becoming leaders in educational programs for allied health.

The program is offered through a collaboration of Clarion’s School of Nursing and Allied Health, offered at the Venango Campus, the College of Business Administration, and the Office of Graduate and Extended Programs. With more than 600 students, Clarion’s School of Nursing and Allied Health, located at the Venango Campus, offers one of the largest nursing and allied health programs in the 14-university Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

For more information, contact the Venango Campus Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at 814-676-6591, ext. 1211.

Clarion University-Venango Campus, located in Oil City, is the oldest regional campus in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The campus provides high-quality educational programs and personalized services to help students succeed. Students can begin any of Clarion University’s 90+ bachelor’s degrees at the Venango Campus, earn an associate degree, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in select areas, obtain a one-year certificate or participate in a variety of professional development and personal enrichment courses. The campus is home to Clarion University’s School of Nursing and Allied Health, the Department of Applied Technology, and the Venango Department of Arts and Sciences. Clarion University-Venango Campus is committed to serving the needs of the community.

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors approved a recommendation by Clarion University of Pennsylvania to lower its nonresident tuition rate from 200 percent to 150 percent of the resident rate, effective fall 2012.

“We took this step with the hope of making Clarion University more accessible to nonresident undergraduate students,” said Dr. Ron Nowaczyk, Clarion University provost. “We recognize the importance of college cost and want to make Clarion more affordable and attractive to residents of nearby states. We decided to be aggressive in providing the lowest cost, high quality program we could in today’s economic environment.”

With the change, Clarion University, along with Edinboro University, provides the lowest overall nonresident tuition of the PASSHE schools. Nowaczyk noted that even with this change in tuition, nonresident students are paying more than resident students with state appropriations added.

For the 2011-12 academic year, resident student tuition is $3,120 per semester, and nonresident tuition is $6,240. PASSHE sets tuition for the 14 state-owned universities, and the 2012-13 rate has not yet been determined, but under current tuition rates, the 50 percent tuition reduction means nonresident students will pay $1,560 less per semester.

Admissions counselors are focusing on advertising programs that are unique to Clarion, and the university will offer, in fall 2012, living learning communities for both resident and nonresident first-year students.

“These living learning communities allow students to live in campus residence halls that are theme- or discipline-based,” Nowaczyk said. “National research has shown these living-learning communities lead to higher success rates among college students and help with the transition from high school to college.”

The tuition reduction will go into effect for current nonresident students in fall 2012, except for those already receiving a 50 percent waiver for academic qualifications. For those students, the lower tuition rate replaces the waiver that had been in effect. Tuition for nonresident graduate students has been at 150 percent of the resident rate, and that will not change.

“We had more nonresident students enroll, proportionally, that were getting the 150 percent rate (with the 50 percent waiver) than those not getting the waiver,” Nowaczyk said.

Slightly more than 10 percent of the current student population are nonresidents.

Nowaczyk said the hope is to grow the campus with a mix of both resident and nonresident students.

Clarion University’s 7,000 students come from 45 states and 31 countries. They may choose from more than 90 degree programs at associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels. The 1-19 faculty-student ratio means personal attention from professors. More than 150 campus organizations offer opportunities for involvement and leadership. Students may choose to live in upscale student apartments, upscale, environmentally friendly student suites, or traditional residence halls.