First-Class Access | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: This post was created by the ECU News Services.

ECU's online nursing, business graduate programs rank among best for veterans

    East Carolina University's graduate programs in nursing and business rank among the nation's best in online education for veterans, according to a listing released May 20 by U.S. News & World Report.

    The ECU College of Nursing ranked second in the country for masters of nursing programs. The online Master of Business Administration program in the ECU College of Business ranked 15 in the nation.

    Now in its second year, U.S. News ranked bachelor's programs and online master's programs in business, computer information technology, education, engineering and nursing to help veterans and service members identify high-quality online degree programs to pursue college or advanced degrees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

    "Veterans and active-duty service members face unique challenges as students, from transitioning between bases and grappling with deployment to balancing work and family life upon return," said Robert Morse, director of data research for U.S. News, noting the programs' flexibility.

    ECU's College of Nursing offers seven online options in the master's of science nursing program: adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, nursing education, nursing leadership and nurse midwifery.

    Students have previously completed undergraduate education in nursing and often have extensive clinical experience. Online coursework is augmented by periodic campus visits for hands-on training and education that is overseen by experienced faculty and community-based preceptors close to the students' home.

    "Our online graduate programs offer the flexibility that veterans and active-duty service members need," said Dr. Sylvia Brown, College of Nursing dean. "We're proud that this flexibility gives those who have served our country access to a first-class nursing education."

    During the 2012-2013 academic year, 45 military veterans and active service members were enrolled in the College of Nursing's online nursing programs.

    The online program in ECU's College of Business is the largest online MBA program in the UNC system. This spring, there were 21 graduate students and 92 undergraduate students identified as veterans who were enrolled in the College of Business.

    "Ties between business institutions and the military are crucial to developing leaders who make a difference in their communities," said Dr. Stan Eakins, dean of the College of Business. "The College of Business is proud to enable members of the military to earn their business degrees online, providing new tools and knowledge that prepare them for their next chapter of life. In turn, veterans bring a level of leadership and maturity to our program, enhancing discussions and adding value for their fellow students."

    ECU's bachelor's programs ranked 52 in the listing.

    ECU, geographically, sits in the center of the third most concentrated military corridor in the country. Craven, Cumberland, Onslow and Wayne counties are home to six major military installations – the biggest are Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune - with approximately 125,000 veterans living in the four counties or a neighboring county.

    ECU's Student Veterans Services provides a seamless transition for veterans - both academically and socially - by helping them become fully integrated into the ECU community, said Trish Goltermann, assistant director of Student Veteran Services. "Our office helps ensure that student veterans are successful in their academic pursuits, adjust to the campus environment, and eventually, transition to civilian employment," she said.

    To be ranked by U.S. News, an online degree program had to report participation in four key programs that offer educational benefits to people with military service, such as the GI Bill and membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium. The programs also had to be included in the U.S. News 2014 Best Online Programs rankings released earlier this year. Those programs were measured on criteria including affordability, faculty credentials, student services and reputation, according to U.S. News.

    The complete listing can be viewed at http://www.usnews.com.


ECU ROTC cadet Teddy Protonentis holds the flag during a Veterans Day ceremony on campus. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)