UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES NAME CHANGE, NEW SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Great Falls and Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) are announcing a new partnership and vision for the future, resulting in a new university name, emphasis, and School of Health Professions effective July 1, 2017.
The University of Great Falls will be renamed the University of Providence in recognition of its founding by the Sisters of Providence and its partnership and commitment with PSJH. According to UGF President Anthony Aretz, Providence St. Joseph Health is making a substantial investment in the future of the university; UGF will in turn become the primary education provider for the PSJH system of more than 110,000 caregivers. The Great Falls campus will be named the University of Providence, Great Falls.
"This is a significant turning point for the University of Great Falls," Aretz noted. "This partnership will enable our university to expand our School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Argo athletics programs on the Great Falls campus, enhance student programming and facilities, and better meet the educational needs of the traditional student body."
At the same time, a new School of Health Professions is being established, expanding on health care offerings including the popular RN to BSN degree program and a new master's degree program in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology. The university also offers graduate programs in Organizational Leadership: Healthcare Administration and a certificate program in Applied Health Informatics. New programs are envisioned in the coming years, according to Aretz, to address the workforce training needs of PSJH.
Aretz made the announcement this morning in Great Falls, concurrent with an announcement by Providence St. Joseph Health President and CEO Rod Hochman, MD, at PSJH headquarters in Renton, Washington.
Hochman stated, "As our founders the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Joseph did long ago, we must plan for the health needs of our communities. Bold and visionary changes are needed, and these plans will position us to develop the next generation of exceptional health care professionals and become a national resource."
The new School of Health Professions is expected to reach as many as 10,000 students in 10 years, with courses available online and at satellite locations, with the first satellite location expected in the Puget Sound area.
The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences is expected to grow enrollment to 1,400 students within the next decade, with some of the students recruited from within the PSJH network. Additionally, students will benefit from an enhanced academic program and a value proposition called the Argo Advantage, which offers a four-year graduation guarantee, a career readiness commitment, and a core curriculum rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
President Aretz emphasized the significant opportunity for the university and local community. "Ultimately, our students will benefit greatly from this partnership with Providence St. Joseph Health," noting that both schools will focus on job placement with the PSJH system, a clear advantage to students.
"Our alumni will also benefit from a stronger, more robust university; this will strengthen the value of their degree," Aretz continued, "and the Great Falls community should see a positive economic impact from continued growth of the university over the next decade."