A rapidly changing world has left higher education trying its best to keep up.
The last five years have been particularly transformative, with a global pandemic making way for an economic recession coupled with political turmoil and judicial upheaval butting up against escalating social justice movements.
That’s not even to mention artificial intelligence (AI), which threatens to undermine what “education” even means. While schools across Louisiana are varying their approaches to evolving with the times, New Orleans universities are charging forward to meet specific needs.
HEALTHCARE
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing as a profession has faced a staffing crisis on a national level, with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projecting a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025 and a shortage of 63,720 full-time RNs in 2030.
An aging population, as well as increased opportunities for women in medicine beyond nursing, have created a need to incentivize high school students and young people to see nursing as a steady and economically viable career.
Chamberlain University, the largest nursing school in the United States, is tackling these challenges by offering new programs like the Bachelor of Science in nursing, which gives students the opportunity to earn their degree in as few as three years, and an “Earn To Learn” program which allows students the chance to earn credits while being otherwise employed.
“We opened our first New Orleans campus in 2017 at Ochsner Health and a second at LCMC Health in 2021,” said Jennifer Couvillon, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, national director of clinical development for Chamberlain University. “What makes these campuses unique is that they are built-in hospitals, which is not the norm for nursing programs. Chamberlain’s goal has always been future-focused, with our programs designed as a secure pipeline between students and health systems.”
TRANSPORTATION
Across town, the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute (UNOTI) applies scholarly research to one of the most ignored but crucial factors of day-to-day life and industry: the transport of people and products from one place to another. New Orleans’ entire economy was built around the transportation of goods up and down the Mississippi River for centuries, a foundational cog in the growth and expansion of the nation.
Today, students at UNOTI are studying and innovating international transportation — from safe navigation for river pilots to parking opportunities for truck drivers down the Interstate 10 corridor.
“Before the pandemic, nobody ever thought about the supply chain, but it affects everything you do, eat, drive and even wear,” said Carol Short, associate director of UNOTI. “There is a huge need for an educated workforce in the transportation industry. Today, every one of our graduates with a Master of Science in Transportation finds employment that pays well above the state average. As a career, it is not just highly lucrative but essential as well.”
BUSINESS
The A.B. Freeman School of Business has long pioneered experiential learning as a central thesis of its educational offerings and Dean Paulo B. Goes is pushing even further, finding new and innovative ways to get students out of the classroom and into the business community.
The results are impressive, with close to 91% of Freeman undergraduates and nearly 100% of MBA graduates finding work placement post-graduation. These programs, along with the recent opportunity for students from any major to study for an Entrepreneurial Business minor, have already had a lasting effect on the job efficacy and collaborative prowess of Tulane faculty and students.
“Entrepreneurship is so prevalent in all industries,” said Goes. “Whether you began a company in high school or are studying to be a writer, understanding the practical business applications of every industry is essential to success. Our experiential learning programs allow our students to work directly for local businesses and essentially future proof their education.”
With Goes already looking forward to new programs harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and energy management soon, the Freeman School is just one of the many New Orleans higher education standard bearers innovating and adapting to meet the moment.
Jeremy Marshall was born and raised in Baton Rouge before moving to New Orleans with his wife, Kristin, in 2018. Beginning his career in the film/TV industry, Marshall worked steadily on over a dozen projects before transitioning to Renaissance Publishing as sponsored content coordinator. He may be reached via email at jeremy@myneworleans.com.
