Nursing students at Carl Sandburg College who want to earn a bachelor’s degree may have an easier time thanks to an agreement between the community college and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Announced Friday, Sandburg and the board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, on behalf of the UIC College of Nursing and UIC Extended Campus, have entered into a memorandum of understanding to create a dual-admissions pathway from the Sandburg associate degree nursing program to UIC’s online RN or BSN degree completion program.
“With six campuses throughout northern and central Illinois, the UIC College of Nursing has long been dedicated to educating nurse leaders for the entire state,” said Terri Weaver, dean of the UIC College of Nursing. “Now, through this partnership, we can make a meaningful and almost immediate difference for western Illinois communities facing critical nursing shortages.”
Under the agreement, nursing students in the dual-admission pathway will earn an associate’s degree from Sandburg while at the same time enroll in identified courses as part of the Chicago’s school’s RN to BSN degree completion program while working in their home region.
“Because it’s fully online, our BSN completion program is easily accessible, and with this agreement, we can provide a new level of convenience for students at Sandburg,” said Kate Tredway, director of the UIC College of Nursing RN to BSN degree completion program. “I personally can’t wait to welcome them.”
Upon completion of Sandburg’s ADN program, students will be awarded their associate’s degree and continue their progress in the online program as degree-seeking students.
The U.S. is expected to experience a shortage of registered nurses that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
“This agreement is fantastic for our associate degree nursing students because they can continue toward another level of their education without having to sacrifice hours on the job,” said Misty Lyon, associate vice president of academic and student planning. “Being able to work and support themselves and their families while also enrolling in this online program through UIC is a major difference-maker for them.”
Sandburg had approximately 40 nursing students enrolled at its main campus in Galesburg in 2019.
Those interested in more information on the ADN + BSN dual-admission pathway can go to the UIC RN to BSN website at bsn.ec.uic.edu.
