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Two University of Wisconsin System institutions are working together to help meet the state’s growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.

As hospitals and other healthcare providers struggle to find enough nurses with advanced educational training, UW Oshkosh (UWO) and UW-Stevens Point (UWSP) today announced a new collaborative program that would allow registered nurses with an Associate Degree or a Diploma in Nursing to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at UWSP.

Over the next few years, UWO College of Nursing will offer its BSN@Home completion program on the UWSP campus. Students enrolled in the program will take UWO nursing courses at Stevens Point while taking general education and supporting courses from either UWO or UWSP.

During the same period, UWSP will develop an accredited BSN completion program within its School of Health Care Professions.  The BSN completion program will be fully supported by UWSP once the program is fully approved and accredited.

“The UWO-UWSP collaboration will bring to Central Wisconsin the best possible nursing education network at all necessary degree levels, and with the highest quality and value because it is from the UW,” said UWSP Provost Mark Nook.

UWO Provost Lane Earns noted that Oshkosh has had a nursing presence in Central Wisconsin since 1979. “We are honored to bring our BSN@Home completion program to the Stevens Point campus and to work with UWSP as it develops its own BSN offering.”

“In tough economic times, public university systems like ours must align academic offerings with workforce needs in the most efficient, effective manner possible. This kind of inter-campus partnership is a proven model — one that will benefit returning adult students and better meet the needs of Wisconsin’s healthcare industry,” said UW System President Kevin P. Reilly. “I’m aware that this collaboration is the product of exhaustive planning, and I thank both campuses for their hard work. Together, Pointers and Titans are moving Wisconsin forward!”