ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Barton College President Dr. Douglas N. Searcy and Nash Community College President Dr. Bill Carver recently signed an agreement to bring a four-year degree to Nash Community College’s campus. The agreement offers Nash Community College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students the opportunity to continue their studies through Barton College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
“Nash Community College has collaborated with Barton College for over a decade to provide students the option of continuing their educational journey in pursuit of a four-year degree via the articulation agreement. Our latest partnership with Barton College, allowing students to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is advantageous to students and their opportunities at Nash,” President Carver said.
With the new agreement, Nash Community College students who successfully complete the Associate Degree Nursing program and National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) may progress into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program offered through Barton College without leaving Nash Community College’s campus. Beginning fall 2016, the entire ADN to BSN program will be offered on Nash Community College’s campus.
“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with Nash Community College,” said Dr. Gary Daynes, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Barton. “This agreement is based on our mutual commitment to excellent teaching, deep student learning, and supporting students in their quest for graduation.”
The partnership will allow access, a smooth transition, and lower tuition to students completing their Nursing degree at Nash. Though the baccalaureate degree will be conferred by Barton College, it will be completed on the community college campus, and can be earned at a competitive cost. As many community college students are raising families, have jobs, and play an active role in their communities, this transition program will make pursuing a four-year degree a more realistic goal for many students.
“Both Barton College and Nash Community College benefit when our students complete four-year degrees,” said Dr. Searcy. “Of equal importance, though, is the impact of this program on the well-being of our communities. By ensuring that more nurses earn bachelor’s degrees, we help ensure that the citizens of eastern North Carolina have access to excellent health care.”
For more information, call 252-451-8235 or visit www.nashcc.edu or 252-399-6400 or visit www.barton.edu.
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In the photo: Dr. Douglas N. Searcy, left, President of Barton College, and Dr. Bill Carver, President of Nash Community College, sign an agreement for the two colleges to partner in offering an Associate Degree to Bachelor Degree transition program.