St. Louis Community College (STLCC) and nearby Webster University signed a dual admission agreement this week that will ease the transition for students at the two-year college who wish to earn a bachelor of science in nursing.
Under the new agreement, students who complete the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program at STLCC will not have to pay the application fee to Webster, and those enrolled in the AAS program may be eligible to begin coursework toward their bachelor’s degree concurrently. Additionally, these students will also have joint access to resources at Webster and STLCC.
“This partnership between STLCC and Webster serves not only the needs of nursing students, but also the needs of the evolving healthcare industry,” Jeffery Pittman, chancellor of STLCC, said in a press release. “BSN-educated nurses are in greater demand than ever before. Employers are seeking nurses with higher education credentials as the role of nursing expands and becomes increasingly complex.”
Indeed, the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report The Future of Nursing recommended that 80 percent of registered nurses obtain a bachelor of science in nursing by 2020. Currently, according to a 2013 report from the Health Resources and Services Administration, only 55 percent of registered nurses hold a bachelor’s degree.
“Both STLCC and Webster University are funneling significant resources into nursing instruction,” said Jennifer Broeder, associate dean of Webster’s College of Arts and Sciences division of professional programs and chair of the nursing department. “By partnering on a dual admission agreement, we are creating a synergy that will deliver the skilled nurses that our profession requires.”
