Students react to medical school

Erin Hillard

Plans are in the works to open a medical school on the campus of Central Michigan University.
President Rao says he is interested in admitting students to the program as early at 2011.
This has some students on campus excited about the future of CMU.
“I know a lot of people who come here because it’s close to home,” said Jennifer Whitman, CMU junior. “I think it would be great to have a medical school close to home as well.”
She also stressed the excellence of the health professions teaching staff as a good reason for a medical school on campus.
Others are excited because of what the medical school could bring to campus.
“I think a medical school would bring a great following to CMU,” Sarah Lindroth, CMU senior, said. “Not only people interested in nursing, but research as well- enrollment would definitely increase.”
She also added how exciting it would be to have our own Grey’s Anatomy on campus.
But some are skeptical about bringing a medical school to campus.
“The medical school would definitely cause some financial issues at Central,” said Katharine Gallaher, CMU junior.
She’s worried about how the new addition would affect tuition rates.
“Enrollment will definitely increase,” she said. “However, I do not believe that introducing a medical school at CMU will raise enrollment enough to allow the university to fund the program.”
Gallaher also wondered where the school would find room to house a medical school, as the current Health Professions building seems too small to her.
Cassie Driscoll, CMU senior, says she believes the medical school is a good idea, but wonders how long it will take for anyone to see a rise in enrollment.
“[It] may take a few years since many will not want to come at first due to a lack of reputation,” she said.
Driscoll added that she still believes that once the program establishes a good reputation, enrollment will increase.

Edited by: John Morelli, Mariah Richards, Amber Brown