Page 237 - Crisis in Higher Education

208 • Crisis in Higher Education

registered nurse (RN). Although some may hesitate to recommend
a cap on credit hours because these professionals deal with human
life, there does not appear to be a good reason to exceed a 120 credit
hour limit. Prior to the BSN, and even today, students can earn
nursing diplomas after three years of study. They can also become
nurses by earning an associate degree. Regardless of which degree
they earn, nurses become RNs after passing the appropriate National
Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which insures a cer-
tain level of knowledge. In addition, knowledge changes quickly and
healthcare professionals require continuing education. Who wants a
healthcare professional with 40-year-old knowledge?
5. Licensure and certification: Other professionals require certifi-
cation and licensure and some degree programs are accredited.
Educational leaders must work with licensing bodies and accredit-
ing agencies to ensure that bachelor’s degrees require no more than
120 credit hours.

10.1.3 Unblock Path to Graduate in Four Years
As mentioned in Chapter 7, plans of study are contracts with students,
and institutions must honor them by providing enough seats in courses
so students can complete their degree on time, which is four years for
full-time students. This means that students who are following their
plans of study do not face closed classes when their plans specify that a
course is to be taken in a particular semester. In some cases, the enroll-
ment limit is real–equipment, lab space, and other items are required for
each student–so only a specific number of seats are available. There are
other reasons why seats are limited, such as courses are writing intensive
or require verbal presentations by students. Even in traditional lecture-
discussion courses, the assigned rooms have a specific numbers of seats,
although these courses could be reassigned to larger classrooms. In some
cases, class limits are arbitrary and quite meaningless and can be easily
changed. Regardless of the reason for the limit, universities must find seats
for students who have a course identified in their plan of study. The only
other option for universities is to provide a new plan of study that allows
students to graduate on time and to which the students agree.
Some administrators argue that ensuring available classes for all stu-
dents with plans of study is too difficult, but it is not. Universities should
proactively plan to address trends in demand. For example, when the U.S.