By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Commission on Higher Education voted 6-to-4 Friday to uphold its decision to allow one additional doctorate of nursing program in the state and placed a three-year moratorium on others, despite calls for more programs and no delay.
The move came a day after the 11 commissioners voted 6-to-5 to accept a staff recommendation for one more program and a moratorium.
Commissioner Roberta Watts, who voted against the recommendation, said the moratorium hinders the state's ability to become a leader in an emerging course of study.
The University of South Alabama currently has the state's lone program for nursing doctorates. Troy University and the three-campus University of Alabama System have submitted proposals to start programs, but only one program can now be approved before October 1st, 2010.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)