Nursing program partners with SIUE

CARTERVILLE - Dean of Academic Affairs Stephanie Hartford told the John A. Logan College board at this week's meeting that Logan has reached a "unique and significant" agreement with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to allow associate degree nursing students to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree online through the Edwardsville college.

"I am pleased to announce a great opportunity for our college, our students and all of Southern Illinois with this enhanced articulation agreement," Hartford said. "We hear time and time again that there is a great need for nurses in our area.

"Typically, students would come to our college for two years and then transfer to a university, but with this new agreement, students can complete 109.5 hours at John A. Logan College and 22 hours online at SIUE to complete the BSN," she said.

According to Hartford, the typical bachelor's degree requires 120 hours, but this program will require 130 hours with 109 of those hours completed at JALC.

"They will do two full years in our nursing program, including the LPN and ADN and all of their general electives, and then 22 hours online through SIUE," said Hartford. "This means they will be able to complete the BSN without ever having to leave Southern Illinois. It's a great deal for students!"

Hartford added that the program will not compete with the new nursing program at SIUC that is just "getting off the ground" in the next few years.

"Students will have options," she said. "The program at SIUC will be a traditional face to face that students wanting the on-campus experience will be interested in, while others may choose our program based on cost or living at home or the reputation of our program."

President Ron House pointed out that this agreement was the result of "months of work" and that the credit goes in large part to Hartford and Melanie Pecord, acting vice-president of instructional services.