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Southeast Tech reports enrollment gains, clinical partnerships in surgical technology program
Summary
Southeast Technical College presented an update on its Surgical Technology associate degree program, reporting increased enrollment, new clinical partnerships including Mayo Clinic, a curriculum alignment with accrediting standards, and strengthened retention and placement metrics.
Southeast Technical College on Tuesday told its board that its Surgical Technology associate of applied science program has grown enrollment, added clinical partners and updated curriculum to align with recent accreditation standards.
Program director Josette Otto told the board the two‑year program prepares students for entry-level work in operating rooms and is accredited so graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). "We prepare entry level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, and effective behavior learning domains to enter the profession," Otto said.
The program overview presented to the board said students complete classroom and lab coursework, simulation training and extended clinical placements. Otto said students complete 656 clinical hours before graduation and a minimum of 120 surgical cases — requirements set by the program's accreditor, ARC/STSA. The program is 65 credits and was recently revised to meet new ARC/STSA programmatic accreditation standards.
Otto told the board fall enrollment rose from 69 to 71 and the college received approval to increase new‑student capacity to 48 for the coming fall term. She reported program retention at 85 percent, 20 graduates last year and about 30 students scheduled for summer clinicals. Field placement historically has been above 90 percent, Otto said, and the program has maintained a 100 percent placement rate for the last three years for students who responded to placement surveys.
Otto listed the program team and adjunct instructors and highlighted new and local clinical partners; she told board members that Mayo Clinic joined the program's clinical site list last year. She also said the program benefits from the college's new simulation center, which faculty credited with improving student retention and applied learning.
A first‑year student, Grayson Larson, told the board he chose Southeast Tech because he wanted a two‑year technical route into health care and said he has enjoyed the program's early clinical and lab experience. "The past first semester was probably the most fun I've ever had in school. I learned so much every class period," Larson said.
Board members praised the program's retention and placement data and its community partnerships. The board passed a motion to acknowledge the Surgical Technology program update by voice vote.
