Historically Black Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has entered into a partnership with Baton Rouge Community College in an effort to produce more nurses who have a bachelor’s degree credential.
Baton Rouge Community College enrolls just under 7,400 students according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 46 percent of the student body. In the 2020-21 academic year, the college awarded 50 associate’s degrees in nursing.
The RN to BSN model will allow community college students who have completed their first two years of study and graduated with an associate’s degree in nursing to seamlessly transfer credit hours to Southern for completion of the online bachelor’s degree program. This agreement also offers an option for students to begin taking their required remaining classes through concurrent enrollment, allowing students to complete online classes with Southern while completing their studies with Baton Rouge Community College. The 2+2 program is designed for registered nurses to continue practicing in the medical field while pursuing their bachelor’s degree.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our nursing graduates who want to continue their education and obtain a bachelor’s degree,” said Wille E. Smith, chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College. “The affiliation agreement with Southern University will streamline the process for our students to enroll and position them for future growth professionally within the medical field.”
