Troy University is expanding its Associate’s in Nursing degree program on its Montgomery Campus to include nighttime classes in an effort to more effectively meet the demand for nurses in the River Region and provide greater opportunities for students.

The first nighttime ASN classes will be offered this fall with a second cohort beginning in spring 2023.

Dr. John Garner, Interim Dean of TROY’s College of Health and Human Services, said the change represents an expansion of the existing offerings on the University’s Montgomery Campus.

“We currently have an Associate of Nursing degree on the Montgomery Campus, but this expansion will provide a nighttime cohort for the program,” Dr. Garner said. “We believe the night classes will help us reach working students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing, providing greater access to the program.”

Dr. Garner said TROY’s reputation for putting quality, career-ready nurses in the workforce positions the University to help address a major shortage in the healthcare industry within the state.

“The nursing need in the state is unprecedented,” he said. “TROY has a strong reputation of producing quality nurses who are well prepared and ready to step up to meet a critical healthcare need within the region. Not only is nursing one of the biggest needs we have in the River Region, but nursing also is one of the largest growing fields according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

Given that the ASN program is designed to be completed in five full-time semesters, the impact the expansion of the program will have on the workforce can be seen sooner rather than later.

“We are going to have entry points in both the fall and the spring, so we are going to be able to get nurses out fairly quickly,” Dr. Garner said. “The ASN is a four-semester program, plus a semester of pre-requisites, so it is not the typical four to four-and-a-half year time period. We can actually get nurses into the workforce relatively quickly with this degree. I am looking forward to this expansion. I think it is going to be a big benefit for the region, as well as a big benefit for our Montgomery Campus.”

The program will look to partner with local and regional medical centers, such as Baptist Health and Jackson Hospital as well as independent providers, on student clinical and internship opportunities and student and faculty recruitment.

Ray White, Vice Chancellor of TROY’s Montgomery Campus, believes the nighttime ASN program will provide a tremendous opportunity for working adults who are unable to attend classes during the day.

“There are numerous people who work daytime jobs in fields they either don’t like or wish to change. They may have a passion to get into Nursing, but can’t go to college during the day to pursue that new career because they can’t afford to quit their daytime job,” White said. “Many people go to college at night after working a day job to complete their college degrees after work. This TROY nighttime ASN program will provide them that opportunity in Montgomery.  The TROY staff and faculty in Montgomery are ready to help them study ‘by the light of the moon’ like we have done for the past 57 years.”