Ferris State University forms partnership with three institutions for West MI BSN Connect

West MI BSN Connect is a new program created via a partnership between Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College, Davenport University, and Grand Valley State University. The program aims to help students earn nursing degrees via streamlined pathways between the institutions, helping West Michigan fill more open nursing jobs amid the industry’s increased demand.

According to an article on Ferris State University’s website, Becky Johnson Himes, who is an associate professor and the nursing program coordinator, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “This partnership is a perfect example of how higher education collaborates to support students, but also the greater community. This streamlined pathway helps students earn their degrees and build valuable, in-demand skills that will directly lead to helping people.”

The West MI BSN Connect program will provide pathways for students who have earned an associate degree in nursing to continue on to earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Grand Rapids Community College’s nursing program gives individuals an associate degree in nursing and prepares them to become registered nurses. The other three universities will provide opportunities for those registered nurses to continue on to earn their bachelor degree through their RN-BSN programs.

The newly established partnership between the four institutions include transfer agreements that will help students seamlessly move their credits, ensuring they don’t waste time or money in pursuit of a higher degree. In addition to the transfer agreements, the program will also work to help students maximize their success using initiatives and strategies like targeted recruitment, enhanced student services, waiving application and transcript fees, providing scholarships, and completing data analysis to monitor the effectiveness of the program.

For more information about Ferris State University, visit its website.

For more information about Grand Valley State University, visit its website.

For more information about Davenport University, visit the school’s website.

For more information about Grand Rapids Community College, visit the school’s website.