Saving SONAT ...

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say "It is well"

I heard this song on my way to work this morning and wept as I drove on into the office.  It sums up my quiet times this week, it is my prayer for my sweet nurses this week, it is where my heart has LIVED this week.  I am so thankful for a God who dwells in PEACE.
Whew ... where to start??  You know, despite working Dinner Theater all day Sunday, the week started well ... and Monday was good.  And Tuesday it poured snow all day and even though I didn't get a "real" snow day ever, I did get this ...

and it was heavenly ...

And then ... it seems that all HELL broke loose!

The Chancellor for the University Systems of Georgia presented his proposal to cut $300 million dollars from the state budget.  And much to the shock of some sweet, wonderful nursing students in Athens, their school was on the chopping block ... and that has changed EVERYTHING!

Within 12 hours of hearing the news, students at SONAT had up a "Save SONAT" facebook group and an online petition.  They had contacted legislators and MCG administrators.  They had appointments with CNOs at Athens hospitals.  They had "Save SONAT" shirts.  12 hours.  12 long, stressful, scary hours.

There was a "town hall meeting" for those in Augusta (there are cuts there as well) and in Athens.  And SONAT represented even though the technology would only allow them to hear what was going on in Augusta, not to respond.  There were no assurances that the juniors would have a school from which to graduate and in the 48 hours in which decisions to cut programs were made, there was no proposal of what would be offered to those affected by the cuts.  Again, there was a lot of fear.

Today, some of the VPs from Augusta (well, let's be honest, 1 VP, 1 dean and one VP who was telecommuted to Athens) came to talk to the students (apparently now aware that the Tuesday meeting had been only one-sided).  Sadly, the two VPs addressing the group knew little more than the bottom line on paper.  One had only been to the Athens campus ONCE ... in 1991 when the present facility was opened and the other had NEVER been to Athens.  WOW!!  There's your first sign as to why SONAT would be on the "cut" list.

The students and faculty did a beautiful job presenting their case and their concerns in a passionate yet professional way.  I think we were all moved to tears by the student who shared that coming to SONAT was her FIRST choice out of the 8 places she applied and what her education here meant to her.  SONAT is a very unique place.  There are only 120 undergrads and a handful of grad students on this little campus (I mean, if you can call a facility in a strip mall a campus).  There are less than 30 faculty, many of whom do double duty as hospital nurses.  And, yes, it has its drama ... and yes, it has its struggles.  But it also is a FAMILY and I don't think it has ever been portrayed more beautifully than this week.  Yes, crisis tends to make us put aside our differences and only see our commonalities.  It makes us let go of the petty and cling to the important.  But in my three years of working on that campus, it has always had a very sweet, very unique sense of family.  It's OBVIOUS in the way the guys love each other.  It's OBVIOUS when you see them joking with their instructors.  It's OBVIOUS when see them step up to help someone in need.  This is the campus that collected over 1700 pounds of supplies and $1800 for Haiti relief.  This is a school that invests in its community and has a strong presence at Relay for Life.  Over the last three years, over 100 of them have traveled overseas with me to do medical missions.  They are people who love and care for people and they will be excellent nurses. 

How can you NOT love this??

And you know, they are not only wonderful, they are also brilliant!  Some of the most amazing, intelligent folks you will know.  And they CHOSE to be here.  They COMPETED to be here.  I've seen a lot of folks waitlisted or denied admission at SONAT.  They have a 98% pass rate for the NCLEX.  I'm pretty sure that's the highest in GA!

But, even in the midst of this, I wish I could put into the blog all the ways my quiet time has meshed with the needs of students for that day.  I wish I could record all of the amazing conversations - GOD conversations I've had this week with students and faculty.  Strangely enough, as I sat through UGA's campus ministry assoc meeting this week (one of my MOST unfavorite parts of my job and it's only once a month), someone said, "I'm praying for crisis" ... and we all kind of laughed awkwardly and said, "dude, don't pray crisis on US" (ok, so maybe we didn't say, "dude" to someone who otherwise goes by "father," but you get the picture!) and then, boom ... crisis HITS SONAT and God does amazing things ... again, the little pettiness got replaced with a lot of love for and belief in this campus and its family. 

So, where are things ... Hmmmmm ... I sat through that meeting and still am unsure.  I'm pretty sure they have said, we will help you guys IN THIS PROGRAM graduate on time ... but how we'll do that, we really don't know.  These are budget "proposals" and we HOPE we don't have to implement them.  We hear you and we know we've got a lot to make up for ... especially it this campus does not close!  What I did NOT hear: This program and this campus is safe from closure (now or in the future).  Those students who have been admitted for fall have a campus to come to.  The faculty will all still have jobs. This is a done deal.

SOOOOO , tonight ... I am heartbroken ... and overwhelmed.  I am cautiously hopeful ... and I am fearful for them.  I am thankful for the many beautiful things God has done in the midst of crisis ... and I am tired.  And selfishly ... I do not want to see anything happen to SONAT.  It's MY place and MY heart here in Athens.  And I love those girls (and yes, Ross ... well, and the other guys, too).

Thankfully, next week, UGA is on spring break and ALL of my time and attention can be devoted to being at SONAT. SOOOOO ... Faith in Practice is sponsoring, "I HEART SONAT" week. Pray for meaningful conversations and for encouragement. Pray, mostly for favor with the budget and the powers that make budget decisions at MCG. AND if you're in GA, sign the petition (the link's on my facebook) and join the "Save SONAT" facebook group.