MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — On Tuesday, colleagues of both the West Virginia University School of Nursing and BridgeValley Community and Technical College met within WVU’s Health Science Campus to commemorate the newly established partnerships between both institutions, including a program designed to help nursing students earn their bachelors degree.

The program is designed to help nursing students transition from their associate degree program and become baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses. According to the Dean of the WVU School of Nursing, Dr. Tara Hulsey, this is the first program of its kind in West Virginia.

The WVU School of Nursing provided a press release that describes the curriculum and stipulations of the program.

“The 3-1 pathway allows BridgeValley students to complete their two-year associate degree, then take the NCLEX licensure exam to become an RN. Upon passage of the exam, students will remain with BridgeValley for the first year of the WVU Nursing RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program. For their final year, students will enroll with WVU to complete the remainder of the curriculum, fully online, and earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

Students who complete the RN to BSN program will earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University.

12 News spoke with both Dr. Hulsey as well as BridgeValley Dean and Nurse Administrator for the School of Nursing and Emergency Medical Services, Kent Wilson, on the importance of providing this option for students.

“It is the only partnership of its kind in the state, and we have a shared goal of increasing the workforce and in particular, baccalaureate-prepared nurses and nurses that may go on in further degrees as well. I’m really excited about it, it’s a win-win in my opinion,” said Dr. Hulsey.

“We’ve had people from WVU that are actually there, that’s where they are today. There is an invested interest in those students wanting to continue their education and now through this partnership and want to go to WVU,” Wilson said.

Enrollment for the program will begin during the Fall 2024 semester. Those interested in applying can find more information through WVU School Nursing’s website as well as BridgeValley Community and Technical College’s website.