West Coast University Celebrates Arrival in Dallas with Local Health Care, Education and Civic Leaders

DALLAS, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- West Coast University (WCU), a regionally accredited, private university focused on health care education, opened the doors of its new Dallas campus to welcome local health care, education and civic leaders at an open-house event May 2. Guests included Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne, and city leaders from the Dallas Metroplex.

WCU Dallas is one of only five universities offering a bachelor-level nursing degree in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Its campus, located at 8435 North Stemmons Freeway near Dallas' medical district, features interactive classrooms, advanced technology, and the region's newest high fidelity Simulation Center for hands-on, no-risk learning.

"We are specialists in training the confident, highly educated nurses who will have the skills necessary to positively impact the local health care community when they graduate," said Dr. Barry Ryan, President of West Coast University. "We have invested thoughtfully in our new Dallas campus, from technology to our curriculum to our top-notch faculty, in order to ensure that we're giving our nursing students all the resources they will need to be successful."

To demonstrate WCU's commitment to the city and people of Dallas, the University presented a $10,000 donation to Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, a federally funded community health center.

"West Coast University has a strong tradition of supporting the communities in which its campuses are located," said David Pyle, WCU's Executive Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "We believe in the mission of the Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, and we are pleased to show them our support."

WCU brings a unique, student-centric approach to health care education that supports its mission of providing students with the tools and learning environment necessary to ensure that graduates are prepared to enter the health care community as leaders in their field. Classes start five times a year and boast a low faculty-to-student ratio and no secondary applications. From admission through graduation, faculty and staff remain involved in providing the resources students need to succeed, including student services to assist any students who are struggling academically with tutoring, study and time-management skills training, financial aid (for those who qualify), and career services that feature resume-writing workshops and career guidance.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a 39-month program whose curriculum focuses on three complementary areas: classroom and laboratory learning, clinical experience gained on-site with local hospital affiliates, and hands-on training in seven specialized Simulation Center bays. The LVN-to-BSN program is a 34-month program for Licensed Vocations Nurses who want to earn their BSN. The RN-to-BSN program is a 19-month program designed for working registered nurses who want to take their skills to the next level.

About West Coast University
West Coast University (WCU) is a leading private health care university, offering accredited programs in nursing, health care management and dental hygiene at three campuses in Southern California. Approved by the Texas Board of Nursing, WCU's campus in Dallas, Texas, opened in spring 2012 and focuses on nursing education. WCU is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACSCU/WASC – www.ascwasc.org) and by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS – www.acics.org). WCU's California Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. WCU's California dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association to offer one of only four Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) programs in California. For more information, visit westcoastuniversity.edu and the Dr. Barry Ryan Blog.

For information, contact:
Stephanie Hoefken
Richards Partners for WCU Dallas
214-891-7693
[email protected]

Celia Ffrench
West Coast University
949-783-4080

SOURCE West Coast University