HOUSTON, TX — The University of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland has expanded its long-standing partnership with Alvin Community College in order to help address an acute shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce.
ACC President, Christal M. Albrecht, and UH-Clear Lake President, Ira K. Blake, took part in a memorandum of understanding-signing ceremony in the Health Sciences and Classroom Building at UHCL Pearland on June 10. This memorandum offers students registered in the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at ACC to become concurrently enrolled in UHCL's baccalaureate program, culminating in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
The agreement provides students with the opportunity to get their bachelor of science in nursing from UHCL in just one additional semester of coursework after having got their associate degree in nursing from ACC.
"Having students co-enrolled in ADN and BSN programs is a unique opportunity to deliver value to students, healthcare providers, and patients. Signing this memorandum of agreement signifies our joint commitment to this innovative approach to nursing education," said Blake.
Albrecht said that this agreement was very important as it made a larger pool of educated nursing professionals.
"This is key to our healthy economy, community and workforce. This collaboration will help meet our local healthcare workforce needs and provide new opportunities for the graduates of both programs," she said.
UHCL Director of Nursing and Assistant Professor, Karen Alexander, also said the curriculum was aligned to develop on itself so that a nursing student could finish the degree in just six semesters.
"Without this joining, this degree could take four to five years. We are addressing the nursing shortage in the clinical area as well as preparing nurse educators," said Alexander.
In this program, students have a maximum of four years from the beginning of their ADN program to complete the BSN. Students may also enter the program in a fall semester cohort or a spring semester cohort, however, they must finish the nursing courses in the sequence outlined in the progression degree plan for their respective cohort. Students may attend part-time or full-time.
For more detailed information about this program visit https://www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/rn-nursing-bsn.aspx.