Coker University asks Hartsville for $6.5 million to expand nursing and health programs

Coker University representatives presented their strategic plan to the Hartsville City Council and asked the city to consider support for expanding campus space and health-program facilities.

Dr. Harder, introduced by Mayor Dan Askins, told the council the university enrolls about 1,000 students, operates on roughly a $25,000,000 annual budget and employs about 160 people. She said the university has seen rapid growth in nursing and allied health programs and is out of space. "We are looking for $6,500,000," Dr. Harder said, linking the request to the return on investment of graduating students into the local workforce. She added that Coker graduated 62 nursing bachelor-prepared nurses in May with an average starting salary of $68,000.

In explaining the strategic plan, Dr. Harder highlighted three focus areas: personalized learning, career development and "vibrant professionalism," and said Coker plans to add nondegree, stackable credentials and a concentration in artificial intelligence for the fall term. She said the nursing program now averages 230–250 nursing and pre-nursing students and that roughly 15–20% of those students are learners whose paths were interrupted elsewhere but persisted at Coker.

Mayor Askins thanked Dr. Harder for the presentation and asked whether students come from many states and countries; Dr. Harder replied that Coker draws students from about 23 countries and likely 30 U.S. states, while the majority come from South Carolina. The council did not take formal action on the request during the meeting; Dr. Harder invited follow-up questions and said she welcomed partnership to grow educational attainment and local economic opportunity.