Garrett College's new radiologic technology program, set to launch in fall 2025, was highlighted at last Wednesday's Garrett College Foundation President's Circle.
The late Daniel E. Offutt III – the lead donor in the Foundation's STEM and Performing Arts Center capital campaigns – was also posthumously honored at the President's Circle, receiving the 2024 Garrett College Board of Trustees Board Award for Outstanding Contributions. Richard Orenstein, the trustee for the Offutt Charitable Trust who passed away suddenly earlier this year, was also recognized with a Resolution of Appreciation by the Board of Trustees.
"Mr. Offutt's long history of philanthropy has been transformational for Garrett College," said Dr. Richard Midcap, GC's president. "And Mr. Orenstein went well above and beyond just implementing Mr. Offutt's wishes as his trustee. Through multiple visits, I think he came to truly love Garrett College and Garrett County."
Professor Christa Bowser, Garrett College's chief academic officer, briefed the President's Circle – the College's most regular donors – on the plans for the radiologic technology program. Bowser noted the program has been approved internally by the Board of Trustees and externally by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
Bowser said the new program will meet a critical regional need.
"Currently, the nearest program is an hour away, and the nearest in-state program is in Hagerstown," said Bowser, adding, "This program will serve a large portion of Western Maryland in addition to locations in West Virginia."
Bowser also noted that jobs are plentiful – with the number of radiologic technologist positions across the nation growing 6 percent annually – and 2023 median pay was over $76,000 annually.
"That's an extremely high median pay for a position with the associate's degree as the entry-level educational requirement," said Bowser.
Bowser said the College is currently developing an on-campus learning lab for the first student cohort, which will begin next September.
She also said the College has preliminary agreements with various hospital and clinical sites in both Maryland and West Virginia. The program includes 15 radiologic technology courses totaling 47 credits in the 70-credit degree.
Bowser expects a large and highly qualified pool of applicants seeking slots in the program's first, 15-student cohort.
"There is a real pent-up demand for radiologic technologists regionally," said Bowser, who is currently leading the effort to develop the program's admissions requirements. "We expect a lot of qualified candidates will be competing for the 15 slots."
Bowser said the College is already planning for future program expansion.
"We felt we should start with a small cohort as we get started," explained Bowser, "but we're anticipate growing the enrollment as the program matures."
