University President: Sunbelt Growth Demands Private Education Opportunities

Brenau University President Ed Schrader told members of the South Forsyth Rotary Club in Cumming this week that the rapid growth in the Sunbelt region of the United States demands more private higher education opportunities—particularly for adult learners in graduate and undergraduate health care studies.

With public education reeling from both political and economic-driven budget cuts, private institutions like Brenau have the responsibility to step up expanded programs. The state’s largest private university, Emory, with its international reputation as a research institution, often educates students from other regions of the country who return to their home regions to pursue their careers while Brenau graduates tend to remain close by to fill the growing need for nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other health care providers.

“We [in the region] do not yet have adequate private education growth to meet these social needs of our region,” he said.

He pointed out several ways Brenau has been addressing the challenge, including creation and planned implementation of clinical doctoral programs in nursing,occupational therapy and physical therapy.

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