Emoryโค Nursing Deans Voice Concerns Over DOE degree Reclassification
ATLANTA, Ga.(Atlanta News Frist) – โคA โฃrecent โchange in designation by the Departmentโ of Education, removing nursing from the list of professional degrees, is raising concerns among Emory University nursing leadersโฃ about โthe affordability of graduate educationโ for aspiring nurses.
Lisa Muirhead, Senior associate Deanโค at the โEmory University Nell โขHodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, emphasized theโค potential impact on the profession. “Anything that keeps nursingโ students from fulfilling their goals isโ a detriment toโ their profession,” she โstated. The reclassification could force students to โฃrely on private loans, which often โcarry considerably higher interestโฃ rates.
Dean Linda McCauley echoed these concerns, questioning โthe rationaleโ behind the โdecision. “In the escalating need forโค healthcare โproviders, โคwhy would โฃyouโข put up roadblocks? And that’s what this DOE action is doing,” sheโ said.
Currently, students pursuing “professional degrees” are eligible for federal loans up to $200,000, while graduate students faceโ a $100,000 loanโค limit, accordingโ to a report by Newsweek. McCauley highlighted the financialโข implications, explaining, โค”So youโ imagineโ if that’s aโ federally backed loan versus โคa private loan, an interest rate ofโฃ 5 versus 15%.” The โฃaverage Emory โฃNursing Masters degree student alreadyโข carries a debt of $100,000.
Muirhead warned โคthat increased financialโค burdens could lead to โฃa decline in the number of nurses entering the field, ultimately impacting healthcare access for all.”The โwait times to access emergency services,delays in clinic appointment times,access to maternal health,behavioral health,oncologyโ services,for the geriatric and aging population,we willโ all be affected,” she explained.
Bothโค deans expressed hope that the Department โขof โEducation will reconsider the change. McCauley โadded,โ “I don’t take it โthat they had studied the situation fully โand had made a reasonedโค decision.”
Atlanta News First reached out to the Department of Education for comment and clarification but has not โyet received a response.