CSCU Announced Dual Admission Between Community College Nursing Program & Charter Oak State College
Community College Nursing Students Guaranteed Admission and Seamless Transfer to Charter Oak’s online RN to BSN
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) President Mark Ojakian today announced that an agreement signed this morning between six Connecticut Community Colleges and Charter Oak State College (COSC) – Connecticut’s public online college – will guarantee students of the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program (CT-CCNP) admission to Charter Oak’s new online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The agreement additionally provides a seamless path for the transfer of nursing credits to Charter Oak’s program.
“This is an exciting option for those seeking to enter the field of nursing,” President Ojakian said. “Our community colleges offer the highest quality, most affordable option for potential nursing students, and the opportunity for guaranteed admission and a seamless transfer to the BSN program at Charter Oak is yet another reason to explore a nursing career through our state colleges and universities.”
The agreement outlines specific benefits for participating students.
- Early identification of interest in and preparation for advancement to the B.S. degree in Nursing through Charter Oak;
- Consistent, integrated academic advisement and support;
- Guaranteed enrollment in the B. S. in Nursing program at Charter Oak and
- Smooth transition from the CT-CCNP to Charter Oak State College.
Additionally, students will receive 35 Nursing credits in transfer with an earned A.S. degree toward COSC degree requirements. Charter Oak will also waive its $50 application fee.
“This program is another step to assist Connecticut’s adult learners to meet their educational goals within the state’s public higher education system. The fully online learning modality program adds to the exemplary areas of study in nursing education including undergraduate, RN/BS, Masters and doctoral studies offered at Southern, Western and Central Connecticut State Universities,” Dr. Jane Gates, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at CSCU said. “Charter Oak’s excellent reputation for quality online programs is a perfect match for the need of many of Connecticut’s RNs to advance to the BSN. The program is eligible for accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is currently working toward this goal for the first graduating class.”
Signing the agreement on behalf of the participating community colleges were Capital Community College CEO G. Duncan Harris, Gateway Community College President Paul Broadie II, Naugatuck Valley Community College President Daisy Coco De Filippis, Northwestern Connecticut Community College President Michael Rooke, Three Rivers Community College President Mary Ellen Jukoski, and Norwalk Community College President David L. Levinson.
“The agreement we sign today helps address the needs of health care employers in Connecticut,” President Klonoski said. “We are thrilled to be partnering with our Connecticut Community Colleges on such an important workforce-relevant program. Making credit transfer easy and seamless for students is what Charter Oak was created to do, and this agreement exemplifies our efforts to create opportunities for students to graduate with degrees that are aligned with workforce needs.”
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, 500,000 nurses are expected to retire nationally by 2022, and 1.1 million new nurses will be needed by 2023.
Requirements for students interested in participating in the agreement include proof of current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Connecticut, graduation from their CT-CCNP A.S. degree program with a minimum 2.3 GPA, and enrollment in Charter Oak’s program within one year of graduation from their A.S program.