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THE
September 9, 2022 Vol. 98, No. 02
Online at TheLink.Harding.edu
Searcy, Ark., 72149
University offers new CFIT program SOPHIE ROSSITTO news editor Graduate students began classes at Harding this fall for a new cardiac device technology program, which is the first master’s degree program in the world for this field. Fourteen students have formed the first cohort of the 10-month Cardiac Function and Interventional Technology (CFIT) program, director Ken Turley said. CFIT assistant professor Tristan Pendergrass said this program allows students to explore the field of cardiac devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators, learn about processes such as cardiac mapping, and learn about complementary areas such as cardiac imaging. Pendergrass said students who earn CFIT degrees can find jobs in outpatient clinics, in hospital cardiac procedure areas or with device manufacturers. He said those who enter the
cardiac technology field have opportunities to provide life-changing services to people with heart conditions. “You’re also around these patients in very high-stress, emotionally charged situations, and you’re a third party that has the time to spend with them and their family and answer questions, and kind of be both an advocate and a guide,” Pendergrass said. Turley said the CFIT program combines classroom courses with hands-on labs, where students can work with devices such as pacemaker simulators and operate on cadavers. They can also gain experience in clinicals at hospitals throughout Central Arkansas. Pendergrass said the CFIT program began with a boot camp on the week of Aug. 15, and classes started the following week. Harding alumni and cardiac device industry professionals attended a CFIT
kickoff event on Aug. 26 in Cone Chapel, giving students a chance to connect with people from different companies. Turley said CFIT students come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including exercise science, nursing and psychology. One student in the program, Britton Anderson, said that as an undergraduate at Harding, she was a nursing major for two and a half years before changing her major to business and graduating last summer. Anderson said she applied to the CFIT program because it combined her interest in pursuing a career in medical sales with her love of interacting with patients. “It’s just such a cool field that I don’t think people know much about,” Anderson said. Turley said he first became interested in forming a new master’s program during a Zoom meeting in spring 2021, when a group
of exercise science students talked about two Harding alumni who were working in the cardiac device industry. Turley said he reached out to Harding administrators and received their support in starting the program. He then worked to find people to teach the technical aspects of the program. Turley said launching the CFIT program has been challenging because it is unlike any other in the country, so he and his colleagues have had few models to look to for guidance. Turley said Pendergrass and Mark Sweezy, a sponsor for the CFIT program, have played key roles in helping him throughout this process. “I feel very, very fortunate that God just put a lot of things in place to make all this happen,” Turley said.
Photo by MADISON MEYER
CFIT Director Ken Turley speaks at the CFIT program opening ceremony in Cone Chapel on Aug. 26. The first cohort of the 10-month CFIT program was recognized at the ceremony.
Biden announces loan forgiveness plan SARA HOOK features/layout editor President Joe Biden announced a three-part student loan relief plan on Aug. 24, canceling up to $20,000 in student debt for an estimated 43 million people. Those millions include over 35% of Harding students currently enrolled, institutional researcher Dustin Howell said. The White House released a statement describing the plan the same day it was announced. “President Biden believes that a posthigh school education should be a ticket to a middle-class life, but for too many, the cost of borrowing for college is a lifelong burden that deprives them of that opportunity,” the statement said. “This plan offers targeted debt relief as part of a comprehensive effort to address the burden of growing college costs and make the student loan system more manageable for working families.” The White House statement cited the economic crisis of the pandemic as the reason behind the decision. The first step of the plan is extending the pause in loan payments until Dec. 31.
Part two is to provide debt relief. Pell Grant recipients are eligible for up to $20,000 of debt cancellation, while non-Pell Grant recipients may get up to $10,000. Only those who make less than the income cap can receive relief — $125,000, or 250,000 if married. Part three involves an overhaul of the student loan system, proposing a new version of the income-driven repayment plan to reduce monthly payments. The Department of Education is also taking steps to hold accountable colleges that have contributed to an excess of student debt. Senior Nicholas Emlaw said he will accept any loan forgiveness he is given, but he is uncertain about how the government plans to pay for it. “Although I’m more than happy to accept the free money… my questions lie in underlying motives,” Emlaw said. “Where the money is coming from.” Like Emlaw, Chair of the Finance Department David Johnson advised students to make use of the relief money. “I’d take it, because, you know, it is available to you,” Johnson said. “If you don’t think you should do that yourself, if you wouldn’t feel
right about it, then follow your conscience in that regard.” In Biden’s address announcing the plan, he cited deficit reduction as to where the money comes from. Deficit reduction is the process of reducing the amount by which a government’s spending exceeds the money it receives in taxes. Johnson said this debt reduction is not the same as having excess funds. “We had a deficit,” Johnson said. “This is going to be a smaller deficit. That’s not a source of money.” Jay Simpson, senior associate director of Financial Aid Services, said students should look into their own situations to make sure they get the aid they are eligible for. “While we all may have our opinions about this news, this is action taken by the president,” Simpson said. “And we encourage student loan borrowers to make sure their contact information is up to date with their loan servicers so that they will receive direct communication about their own situation. Loan servicer information is available by logging into studentaid.gov.”
Enrollment by the numbers
6.2%
amount new student enrollment increased; including 805 first time college students, and 115 transfer students
4,804
total student headcount
3.76
average high school grade point average of freshman class Source: Harding University press release from Sept. 6 Graphic by COOPER TURMAN
Graphic by EMMA JONES