North Central Michigan College partners with Davenport University to offer students BSN completion program

North Central Michigan College has teamed up with Davenport University to make it easier for students who graduate with an associate’s degree in Nursing to continue their education and earn a bachelor degree from Davenport University. In addition to the partnership to help streamline the process of continuing on to a bachelor’s degree, there are $10,000 scholarships available to the first 30 students who are accepted into the completion program at Davenport University.

According to an article on North Central Michigan College’s website, David Roland Finley, who is the president of North Central Michigan College, commented on the partnership, saying, “North Central’s partnership with Davenport is about more than providing an educational pathway; it's about empowering our nurses with a convenient, affordable path to take the next step in their education and training. We thank area legislators Sen. John Damoose, Reps. John Roth and Ken Borton, and former Sen. Wayne Schmidt for their role in making this opportunity possible. Together, we are not only meeting the demands of the present, but actively contributing to the future of healthcare in Northern Michigan.”

Finley thanked legislators because the partnership between North Central Michigan College and Davenport University was made possible due to legislation passed in 2022 that gave community colleges and public universities the means to implement BSN completion programs. Public Act 103 of 2023 provided $2 million in funding from the State of Michigan to help create the programs.

The goal of the partnership is to streamline access for recent Nursing graduates from North Central Michigan College who have an associate’s degree to spend a final fourth year earning a bachelor degree from Davenport University. While the students would be enrolled with Davenport University for the final year, the program will consist of online courses and hands-on portions that will take place on North Central Michigan College’s campus. This arrangement would allow the students to remain in their local area while finishing their degree. 

Richard J. Pappas, the president of Davenport University, described what he sees as the benefit of offering the BSN completion program to North Central Michigan College students, saying, “This partnership is critical to the ultimate goal of producing more nurses with higher-level degrees to work in our hospitals. We know the North Central graduates who will be coming to us will be well educated and ready for the next steps in their education and their careers. This collaboration is an important step in closing the talent gap that exists in the nursing profession.” 

The Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at North Central Michigan College, Brent LaFaive, explained why Davenport University is a great partner for the school in this arrangement, saying, “Davenport is an ideal partner because their program is straightforward, and like North Central, they offer a robust, high-quality nursing education. Our partnership with Davenport will improve patient care in Northern Michigan while allowing our nurses to remain actively involved in their careers locally.”

The BSN completion program at Davenport University will be available in the winter. Students are encouraged to apply right away if they are interested in being eligible for the 30 scholarships available to the first students who are accepted into the program. The eligibility requirements include having graduated from North Central Michigan College within the past five years, possess a current nursing license, and be accepted into Davenport University.

For more information about North Central Michigan College, visit the school’s website.

For more information about Davenport University, visit its website.