Nursing, medical technology programs in Grand Forks growing post-pandemic with Lake Region State College – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — Lake Region State College has offered a number of programs to Grand Forks residents over the years. Its nursing program, partnered with Altru Health System, has seen a rise in enrollment since the COVID pandemic.

Other programs have not necessarily seen the same impact, generally due to constant growth in online education, but since the pandemic, “there has been a consistent surge in allied health nursing programs,” said Erin Wood, Lake Region State’s Community College Foundation/Advancement executive director.

“We’re hoping that can expand with the continued need for nurses,” she said.

The nursing program has open applications starting in December through March. Interested students choose the location where they want to take the courses. Aside from the Devils Lake campus and in Grand Forks, the school offers similar services in Mayville and Jamestown.

At present, there is room for 16 practical nursing students and 16 associate degree nurse students in Grand Forks.

This school year, LRSC adopted an allied health program that came from a $1 million grant from the North Dakota University System. The funds will will support the development of allied health apprenticeship programs in collaboration with Altru, providing certificates and associate degrees in surgical technology, laboratory technology, respiratory therapy, ultrasound and sonography.

In Grand Forks, surgical technology is offered while laboratory technology will be coming soon, once fully approved. There are plans for the college to consider opportunities in radiology technology.

The students take their theory classes online and then do their labs in person, according to Wood.

In its first year in Grand Forks, there are six enrolled in the surgical technology program.

Outside of nursing and medical technology, Lake Region State’s familiar programs in TrainND and at the Grand Forks Air Force Base are still offered. The workforce training arm has some part-time sales positions in Grand Forks and is hiring a full-time sales person.

There are several training sessions in the Grand Forks area each year, with hundreds participating. Some offer general training, while others focus on a specific type of business.

“There are general trainings on inter-office communication, management or supervisor training, things like that. Those are open to whoever wants to come in,” Wood said.

Lake Region and Grand Forks Air Force Base have had a partnership since 1982. The programming is not just open to military members and their dependents, but also is open to area non-military residents.

“Somebody living in Emerado who wants to take a class in accounting can take it at the base,” Wood said. “They just have to set up their base request to get access to the education center.”

There are a handful of degrees offered at the base, as well as a two-year associate degree.

“At the base we have seen a number of face-to-face classes go down in numbers, along with the mission changing at the base,” Wood said. “There is less personnel. With all that happening, it still stays strong and it is something that we continue to offer. There are always spots for growth and cycles.”

The school continues to offer its “Launch!” program with UND, which allows students to take courses locally and then transfer to UND, along with offering dual credits in partnership with Grand Forks Red River and Grand Forks Central high schools.