For the City Times

Mid-State Technical College has reached an agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to create an integrated and seamless mechanism for students to complete an associate degree in nursing (ADN) at Mid-State and a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) through UW-Stevens Point.

The agreement, known as the Partnership Program (1+2+1) was signed by Mid-State’s vice president of Academics, Sandy Kiddoo, and UW-Stevens Point’s provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, Greg Summers, in a ceremony on Mid-State’s Stevens Point campus on Thursday, March 16.

The Partnership Program allows students to begin their coursework at either institution by taking general studies courses to meet Mid-State’s ADN admission requirements. For students beginning at Mid-State, the program allows acceptance into UW-Stevens Point RN to BSN completion major as early as the third semester of the Mid-State ADN program.

For students beginning at UW-Stevens Point, the agreement also creates a competitive application process to gain entrance into Mid-State’s ADN program each semester, providing an efficient and affordable path to becoming a registered nurse (RN) in central Wisconsin. Following completion of the Partnership Program, students will have earned both an ADN and BSN and successfully achieved licensure as an RN in the state of Wisconsin.

“This agreement is a phenomenal opportunity to streamline processes for academic progression for our Nursing students while also meeting the healthcare needs of our community.” said Dr. Colleen Kane, Dean of Mid-State’s School of Health.

“This partnership creates a new cohort of nursing students at Mid-State Technical College, increasing registered nurses in the community, who will be able to continue at UW-Stevens Point to obtain their bachelor’s degree,” said Sharon Frazier, Nursing program director at UW-Stevens Point. “There is an urgent need for more baccalaureate-prepared nurses in our community, and we’re grateful to our colleagues at Mid-State for the work they’re doing to help meet that need.”