Miami Dade College knifes midwifery program
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 9:16AM 
Miami Dade College has shut down the Midwifery Program, a move announced August 8 at a Medical Campus meeting. The college cited low enrollment and high costs. A news release issued by Florida Friends of Midwives pointed out that the program is the first and only one of more than 200 degree-granting programs eliminated because of cost-cuts.
Melissa Chin Casey planned to enter the program this fall. “Miami Dade College doesn’t understand that we didn’t choose to be in this career program just to have any degree—this is our passion,” she said. “It’s insulting and cruel for the administrators to say the program was cut because of low enrollment…we are practically beating down the door for them to let us in. As a public education institution, they have failed this community.”
The Direct-Entry Midwifery Program was the first in the country to be offered at a public institution, placing opportunity before students who might not be able to afford more expensive programs at private colleges and universities. The program was selective, training approximately 80 midwives since its founding in 1994.
The irony of this move must not be missed.
