The project is designed to develop and expand the capability of the North Dakota State College of Science to provide distance delivery of high-quality allied health education programs and activities.
Special emphasis is given to rural areas and geographically isolated regions.
A combination of interactive technology, including ISDN, Internet and T-1 lines, is used to deliver coursework. Initial distance delivery programming is focused around the college s current curriculums of Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Health Information Technician, Mental Health Care Associate, Occupational Therapy Assistance, Pharmacy Technician, and Practical Nursing. Other activities to develop distance education include staff development, curriculum modification, client relationship development, and resource development to ensure long term program self-sufficiency and general coordination of outreach activities. The number of Native American nurses will increase and be more representative of the percentage of Native American population in the region. The North Dakota Healthcare Foundation designed Project Transcends as a response to a serious nursing shortage that threatens the stability of many of our rural healthcare facilities.