Tampa, FL (Sept. 25, 2014) – The University of South Florida College of Nursing has partnered with Hillsborough Community College (HCC) to offer a concurrent bachelor’s degree in nursing. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between USF and HCC.
The partnership allows students to simultaneously enroll in HCC’s associate degree in nursing (ASN) and USF College of Nursing’s bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Qualified students will be able to complete both an ASN and BSN in an accelerated manner from USF and HCC.
The concurrent degree takes effect immediately, with all courses taught online.
“We are absolutely thrilled about the partnership between USF College of Nursing and HCC,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health and Dean of the College of Nursing. “This is a collaboration that is vitally needed by the community, state and country to fill the gap of nurses with baccalaureate degrees.”
USF College of Nursing students in the bachelor’s degree program.
This ASN to BS degree will allow individuals who meet the qualifications to enroll at both institutions simultaneously. Students can begin taking courses at USF after they complete their first semester at HCC.
“Rather than competing or duplicating with HCC, we chose to collaborate and leverage each other’s resources to meet the needs of our community,” said Rita D’Aoust, PhD, ACNP, ANP-BC, CNE, FAANP, FNAP, associate professor and associate dean for academic affairs and interprofessional initiatives at the USF College of Nursing. “Through this collaboration, HCC students will have the opportunity to learn in a high-tech environment and take classes taught by world-class faculty at the USF College of Nursing.”
HCC serves more than 47,000 students on five different campuses. The community college offers more than 160 academic programs including a two-year nursing degree. HCC is the largest community college feeder to USF.
“Providing HCC nursing students with concurrent enrollment at USF is just one of the many examples of our efforts to expand educational opportunities for our students,” said Ken Atwater, PhD, president of Hillsborough Community College. “This collaboration between HCC and USF will provide expanded clinical opportunities for students, enabling them to gain valuable work experience and ensuring their placement into the USF bachelor’s degree program.”
-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.
-Hillsborough Community College-
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 46,000 students annually at five campuses and three centers throughout Hillsborough County. HCC is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Media Contact:
Vjollca “V” Hysenlika, College of Nursing Communications
(813)974-2017, or vhysenli@health.usf.edu
Video produced by Vjollca Hysenlika and shot and edited by Jose Donneys, USF Nursing Communications.
Photo by Ashlea Bailey, USF College of Nursing
