In a possibly unique collaboration, Tarleton State University and Tarrant County College in Fort Worth have joined forces to streamline the route for nursing students transitioning from an associate degree to a bachelor’s.
The agreement provides for the two institutions to offer co-curricular concurrent enrollment, resulting in a seamless educational program for TCC associate degree nursing students in line for their baccalaureate-level degrees.
“Tarrant County College has a longstanding partnership with Tarleton articulating associate degree graduates into Tarleton health professions programs in medical laboratory science, medical laboratory technology, histotechnology, public health, health professions technology and social work,” said Dr. Sally Lewis, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services at Tarleton.
“Tarrant County students are excellent candidates for acceptance into these competitive health professions programs. With the addition of the TCC RN to BSN co-curricular agreement, we plan to provide an easy transition to the TCC RN students. Our healthcare professionals are truly our heroes.”
Students in TCC’s associate degree nursing program, when meeting Tarleton admission requirements, will enroll in RN to BSN courses for their second-semester courses at Tarrant County College.
“This is a unique and exciting collaboration with our partners, and we’re proud to share our accomplishment,” said Dr. Jennifer Mundine, interim associate dean and department head of Tarleton’s post-licensure nursing programs.
“This innovative partnership between Tarrant County College and Tarleton State University not only provides our students a more efficient pathway to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), it also provides them with an advanced degree to serve as the most trusted professional in the United States,” said Dr. Tetsuya Umebayashi, dean of nursing at Tarrant County College. “This is a clear example of how we are committed to our students’ success. We are ready to join our efforts together with Tarleton State University to benefit our students.”
The new slate of courses will be delivered in a hybrid format during concurrent enrollment to build consistency and approachability. As students complete their associate degrees and obtain licensure for registered nurse practice, the remaining RN to BSN courses will be delivered online through Tarleton to facilitate achievement of a bachelor’s degree in as little as six months.
“Four-year nursing degrees provide additional opportunities for students to fill the highly skilled, high-demand healthcare professions that now make up a great share of our North Texas labor market,” said Tarleton President James Hurley. “This collaboration will make it more convenient for students to complete their undergraduate nursing degrees and put them on the road to a rewarding career.”
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.