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海角视频 Sees Third Straight Year of Growth
By Laura Gang on October 31, 2023
At a time when many institutions of higher learning are struggling to maintain their enrollments, 海角视频 has continued to grow in recent years.This academic year, PUC鈥檚 headcount has increased from 884 to 930 students. It鈥檚 the third consecutive year of growth. While the trajectory may be modest, PUC is grateful, especially considering demographic challenges and a decade-long downward trend in student numbers. Furthermore, the college has made considerable strides in retaining its students. PUC maintains a nearly 90% retention rate for those who qualify to return for another year. President Ralph Trecartin said the continued growth is a testament to the hard work of the entire PUC campus community. 鈥淪o many people at PUC have contributed to this effort,鈥 Trecartin said. 鈥淲e are thankful to God for His faithfulness and guidance as we continue to provide quality education for our students.鈥滸ene Edelbach, vice president for enrollment and marketing, said several factors are responsible for this growth鈥擯UC鈥檚 innovative vision, transfer student programs, and new graduate offerings. Among these, the introduction of associate to bachelor鈥檚 degree programs in nursing and the online MSN and MBA programs have collectively added nearly 200 students to the college.The associate to bachelor's degree program...
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PUC Completes Additional Renovations to Nursing and Health Sciences Building
By Laura Gang on October 26, 2023
海角视频 reached a significant milestone with the completion of the Davidian Hall renovation project. It鈥檚 a fresh look for one of the college鈥檚 oldest buildings, which hasn鈥檛 undergone upgrades for decades.The building project was split into two phases. The first, completed in the fall of 2022, focused on creating adequate space to accommodate the increase in nursing and health science students. During this phase, an OB and Pediatric simulation room was designed and built.聽 Upgrades to the existing high-fidelity simulation space were also needed.聽聽Phase two of the Davidian Hall refresh was an intensive undertaking over the summer. Additions included a skills lab testing area, two simulation debriefing areas, new desks in one classroom, tables and chairs in another, and new chairs for each lab space.聽All new flooring and carpeting were installed, and painting was completed鈥攊ncluding in all faculty areas. Updated signage was also added throughout the department.聽聽鈥淭he addition of these items will allow students to utilize the simulation and laboratory environments to meet programmatic outcomes and utilize experiential learning through quality hands-on experience to ensure the department is self-sufficient in training the next generation of nurses. This is critical if another event like the recent COVID-19 pandemic takes...
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Napa Valley Community Foundation Grant Supports First Scholarly Conference at PUC鈥檚 Walter C. Utt Center
By Laura Gang on October 25, 2023
海角视频 recently received a generous grant from the Johnson Family Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation. The donation, awarded on Sept. 23, goes toward the Utt Endowment.Students of PUC鈥檚 late, beloved history professor, Dr. Walter Utt, established an endowment to honor their former teacher. Officially recognized by PUC鈥檚 Board in 1988, the Utt Endowment raised money to complete the professor鈥檚 unfinished book, support a series of visiting professors, and build the recently opened Walter C. Utt Center for Adventist History on the PUC campus.Part of the grant from NVCF will be used to publish the results from the first scholarly conference held early this week at the Utt Center. The conference, titled 鈥淓llen White for Today,鈥 was enormously successful and attended by 21 scholars and administrators, including four former university presidents.Eric Anderson, a professor emeritus and former PUC president, said the conference focused on the historical context of White鈥擜dventism鈥檚 鈥渇ounding mother.鈥 White鈥檚 home is a state historical site in Napa County. Conference participants discussed the significance of the Adventist experience in American history.Anderson expressed deep gratitude for the grant. 鈥淚t highlights the potential of the Utt Center to promote research of value to 海角视频 and...
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PUC鈥檚 33rd Annual Publication Workshop Gives Academy Students Valuable Hands-On Experience
By Laura Gang on October 5, 2023
海角视频 hosted 80 students from 10 Seventh-day Adventist academies in September at the 33rd Annual Publication Workshop. It鈥檚 a yearly opportunity for student newspaper, yearbook, and video yearbook staff and sponsors to network, learn, and hone their skills.鈥淧UC's legendary Publication Workshop represents a unique chance for high school and academy students to learn skills in photography, design, and journalism from world-class professionals,鈥 communications professor Eric Graham said. 鈥淭he ability to work hands-on with experts and develop skills that will make their school publications come alive is a special opportunity.鈥漃rofessor of Visual Arts Tim de la Torre served as director of the workshop, held Sept. 10-12, for the third time, though he has taught at the event for many years. His goal this year was to find ways to fine-tune the workshop based on feedback from years past. 鈥淲e feel like it鈥檚 getting to its final form,鈥 he said.Along with de la Torre and Graham, other professors from PUC who presented included Chair of the Visual Arts Department Rajeev Sigamoney, Professor of Photography Brian Kyle, and Professor of Graphic Design Clifford Rusch鈥攁ll people with extensive experience in their respective fields. On Monday morning, students attended lectures and training. Rusch...
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Payscale Ranks PUC Among Top Three in 2023 College Salary Report
By Laura Gang on October 2, 2023
海角视频 is again among the top three colleges with the best return on investment for graduates with an associate degree, according to Payscale鈥檚 2023 College Salary Report.Payscale鈥檚 annual salary potential rankings, released Sept. 27, are based on the surveys of millions of graduates nationwide from over 2,500 colleges and universities.Most of the highest-ranking colleges have strong nursing and healthcare degree programs. PUC ranked third on the list, just behind Helene Fuld College of Nursing in New York and Labour茅 College in Massachusetts. The median salary for a PUC graduate with an associate degree is $97,000.鈥淭his result demonstrates how valuable associate degrees from PUC can be long term,鈥 said Lindsay Hayasaka, vice president for academic administration and academic dean. 鈥淭hey also open opportunities: moving into a bachelor program or heading into the workforce--where students know they will get an excellent return鈥攁re both attractive options.鈥滱 two-year degree program is often a more affordable option for students making decisions about a college education and financial aid. Payscale notes that choosing a college with a high salary potential could reduce student loan payback by nearly half.鈥淲hile the perceived value of a college degree may be up for debate, this year鈥檚 College Salary...
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PUC Climbs U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List
By Laura Gang on September 18, 2023
海角视频 was again lauded for its excellence in higher education, ranking high among the region鈥檚 top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 Best College list released today.U.S. News & World Report heralded PUC as the No. 2 Best Value School among colleges in the larger Western region, a jump from No. 6 last year. In California alone, PUC is first.A Best Value School, according to the publication, is an institution credited with excellent academic programs and affordability due to low tuition costs and financial aid assistance. 鈥淚 believe the best value that comes with a PUC degree is that our students are connected to a community of faith and well-prepared for a lifetime of service,鈥 said Lindsay Hayasaka, PUC鈥檚 vice president of academic administration and academic dean. 鈥淏eing equipped to create positive change in the world and live out kingdom values is truly invaluable鈥攁nd this is what we are most proud of at PUC.鈥 PUC President Ralph Trecartin agrees.鈥淭hese rankings have once again confirmed that 海角视频 is a leader in higher education, not just for its quality academics but for its affordability,鈥 Trecartin said. 鈥淲e have consciously provided merit scholarships for students who...
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PUC Forest Helps Sustain Habitat for California鈥檚 Rare and Threatened State Butterfly
By Laura Gang on September 5, 2023
Biology professor Aimee Wyrick always knew the PUC Forest was a special place.But until recently, she didn鈥檛 know just how special it was.Wyrick, a longtime 海角视频 educator and dean of the school of sciences, was walking with her father through the forest this past spring, where she has spent countless hours studying plants and wildlife. They spotted something she鈥檇 never seen before鈥攁 black and yellow butterfly with a peach silhouette on both wings.聽It was a California dogface butterfly. Not only is it rare, but in 1972, it was officially named the California state insect. The butterfly wasn鈥檛 alone. Several other bright females and males quickly flitted about the wooded area, only pausing briefly to alight on dark purple blossoms with orange-tipped stamens.聽Wyrick had been surveying the PUC Forest, documenting rare native plants as part of a state-funded grant program. Last year, the state awarded a $5 million Cal Fire Forest Health Grant to the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation with PUC as a primary partner. Nearly $3 million was given to PUC Forest for wildfire mitigation 鈥 namely fuel reduction.In the process of forest thinning, it鈥檚 important to preserve certain trees and plants that may be threatened.聽One of these...
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PUC Receives Federal Grant to Assist Master鈥檚 Students Aspiring to Become Nurse Educators
By Laura Gang on July 21, 2023
It鈥檚 no secret that hospitals, doctor鈥檚 offices, schools, and more in the United States are facing a nursing staff shortage. More nurses are needed to replace those retiring. The good news is that college nursing programs are seeing a rise in students. However, more qualified nurse faculty are in demand to teach these new nurses.To help fill this need, on July 3, 2023, 海角视频 received a grant of more than $203,000 from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) for a Nursing Loan Faculty Program (NFLP). This grant will provide PUC with the resources to assist prospective MSN students financially. The loan program was created to help alleviate financial concerns for graduate nursing students interested in becoming educators.鈥淎s a former recipient of this grant during my doctoral program, I was determined to obtain this funding to support the nurse educator students enrolled in our new PUC MSN program,鈥 said Kimberly Dunker, dean of the PUC School of Nursing and Health Sciences. 鈥淭his is the perfect opportunity for nurses who want to teach in academia or the practice setting to obtain funding through this loan forgiveness program.鈥滷unds from the loan program are available to accredited nursing schools to help...
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Mariano Looks Ahead To Leading Honors Program for a New Generation
By Laura Gang on July 9, 2023
For Milbert Mariano, starting a new role at 海角视频 in July is like a homecoming.Mariano is set to become the dean of the new School of Arts, Humanities, and Professions at PUC. As part of those new duties, he is also taking over leadership of the Honors Program, which he was closely involved in early in his PUC career.Earlier this year, PUC announced a new three-school model. As leadership discussed the path ahead, Mariano became intrigued by the idea of transitioning from vice president of academic administration and academic dean to lead one of the new schools鈥攅specially because of the Honors Program. 鈥淚 knew the Honors director was part of that,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the things that really excited me since I had been a part of the Honors Program years ago.鈥漃UC鈥檚 Honors Program is for high-achieving students who seek a more robust understanding of a complex world. Courses are based on primary text and discussion鈥攁n alternative to the traditional general education format. Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, aesthetic appreciation, and spiritual growth. As he looks forward to the new role, Mariano said he wants to build upon the successes of his predecessors鈥擜llison...
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PUC Sees Strong Gains in New Students for Spring
By Laura Gang on June 19, 2023
Editor鈥檚 Note: We are reposting this story with an updated headline that more clearly reflects its content.This year鈥檚 theme at 海角视频 is 鈥淩evival鈥; certainly, there鈥檚 no better metaphor for renewal than spring. It鈥檚 a time when we witness the glorious rebirth of nature all around us. The sun finally casts its warm light after a long cold winter. Spring brings a revitalized sense of optimism.Likewise, there鈥檚 optimism on the horizon for PUC. This spring has seen the highest number of new students enrolling in the last ten years. Additionally, Economic Full-Time Equivalent (EFTE) enrollment has increased each quarter this year鈥攕omething which has never happened before in the modern history of the college. Many factors have contributed to these successes. Kharolynn Pascual Smith, director of orientation, transitions, and retention, said the return to pre-pandemic conditions has made it possible for many students to move forward with their college plans. Pascual Smith, who focuses primarily on re-enrollment, regularly checks in with her students and helps them through difficult obstacles. That kind of personal care is another reason students are more likely to stay. Pascual Smith also cited the enrollment team鈥檚 鈥渋ntentional approach in seeking out and cultivating potential students for...
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