When Lock Boyce broached the idea of Patrick Henry Community College leasing 75 percent of the former Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick and relocating their nursing department there, it was without input from the college.
“It was without our knowledge, discussion or involvement,” said Dr. Angeline Godwin, president of PHCC. “PHCC was put into this discussion, and it was represented that we were going to do something with no discussion from us and now, it’s like we’re the ones standing in the way of reopening the hospital.”
Boyce raised the issue at the Nov. 19 meeting of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, but Godwin said she first heard murmurs about the issue “a number of weeks ago through the grapevine. It was being represented that PHCC” would relocate their nursing and EMT/Paramedic programs to leased space in the Patrick hospital.
Godwin said she did not respond to those murmurings. However, she was later asked about the issue by Ron Haley, the chairman of PHCC’s Foundation Board of Directors.
Haley, who also serves on the Patrick County Economic Development Authority Board, relayed to Godwin that Boyce had represented PHCC would relocate the programs to the local hospital and asked if that was accurate.
“I told him unequivocally there had been no conversations with me and my administration and that we had made no such” assertions, Godwin said.
Haley requested that she send him an email with that information. In the email, Godwin said she also outlined a few basic reasons the relocation is not an option, including the financial impact, regulatory concerns and other issues.
She explained that PHCC’s nursing program is a nationally accredited program. Unlike K-12 schools which can continue to operate if they fail to meet certain accreditation benchmarks, PHCC cannot due to their federal financial aid.
In addition, the commute would be a hardship for students enrolled in the program, she said, adding that the transportation issue is still among the most difficult faced by students.
Plus, if more than 50 percent of a program is delivered off-campus, Godwin said separate admissions offices and other services also must be provided to students at the satellite location.
“I tried to explain this in an email,” she said, adding that she believed that email then was distributed to the members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors.
Boyce called Godwin on Nov. 23, and “tried to pitch this idea again,” she said, adding that she again tried to explain the issues.
“I tried to explain the ramifications of this and how it (relocating) was not a viable option for PHCC,” Godwin said.
Boyce has said that he wants to address the PHCC Board of Directors.
However, “neither I nor my local college board has the authority to move a program,” Godwin said.
Rather, that would take action by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Board “to remove a full program off campus and onto an alternate campus. That is beyond me and my board,” Godwin said.
Before the state board would consider relocation, Godwin said several different factors would be measured, including whether PHCC currently has adequate facilities and equipment for students.
PHCC has both, she said, adding the state board also would need to determine whether PHCC had the financial means to lease 75 percent of a building.
“There is no pot of money at the state” level in which Godwin will get a larger allocation, providing she could show PHCC has inadequate facilities and equipment. “I have no revenue stream. We’re so tuition dependent on enrollment that when enrollment goes down,” so do revenues, she said.
“It’s really real simple. I can’t justify moving a program. There is no funding source for it and I can’t justify it to the state,” Godwin said, adding that even if she could, input from students and faculty would be sought at each step of the process for any intended change.
Although PHCC is working diligently to provide classes and “build to capacity” to serve Patrick County, Godwin said those endeavors will be completed as PHCC has funding, but there are no plans to relocate the nursing program.
“I have spoken with the Chancellor and he agrees,” Godwin said. “I know the county needs a hospital and I would love for the county to have a hospital … but this is not a viable option and I’m not going to tell someone I’ll do something I cannot do.”
