麻豆原创 College of Nursing has partnered with Valencia College to bring its successful Concurrent Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing聽(B.S.N.) program to Valencia’s West campus.

The pilot program began with 28 students in Fall 2010. The next class will be admitted in Fall 2011 with 20 students from Valencia and 20 students from the 麻豆原创. Debra Hunt is the full-time 麻豆原创 nursing adviser and instructor assigned to Valencia’s West campus.

麻豆原创 initiated its Concurrent A.S.N. to B.S.N. program in 2003 with a similar pilot program at Seminole Community College, now Seminole State College. Today, the program on Seminole State’s Altamonte Springs campus has doubled in size with 70 percent of Seminole’s nursing students participating.

The program at Seminole admits about 70 students twice a year in Fall and Spring, and 麻豆原创 selects approximately half of the students. 麻豆原创 added a second adviser/instructor on this campus in Spring 2011. Susan Ricci and Angela Ritten are the full-time 麻豆原创 nursing advisers and instructors assigned to Seminole’s Altamonte campus.

Nicole McConnell (pictured above) said she decided to enroll in 麻豆原创’s Concurrent program to increase her knowledge in nursing, plus she feels it gives her an advantage. “All of the hospitals in Central Florida are moving toward ‘Magnet Status’ so it’s important and beneficial to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

Students in both programs have the opportunity to learn from the聽麻豆原创 faculty members assigned to聽teach 麻豆原创 nursing courses聽at the partner campuses. As they progress in the program, they have the opportunity to learn from聽other 麻豆原创 faculty members through online courses that are scheduled to accommodate the students’ varying clinical rotations.

As a limited-access program, 麻豆原创 College of Nursing invites students who meet or exceed its admission requirements to apply for the Concurrent A.S.N. to B.S.N. program at Seminole State College and Valencia College.聽The unique, dual-enrollment program聽offers students an additional option for obtaining their baccalaureate degree from 麻豆原创. Students accepted into the competitive program take A.S.N.-level nursing courses at the partner college while taking 麻豆原创 nursing courses at the same time. Students will complete their A.S.N. degree with more than half of their B.S.N. credits already earned, allowing them to complete their B.S.N. degree from 麻豆原创聽sooner and making them more competitive in the workforce.

麻豆原创’s Concurrent A.S.N. to B.S.N. program is a first of its kind in the state and serves as a national model for increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Research shows a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes.

The partnership between Valencia and 麻豆原创 allows students to take two years of classes as Valencia students and two years as 麻豆原创 students. Students then have the option to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Florida (UF) College of Design program based in 麻豆原创’s Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando or at another institution.

Admission decisions for the Bachelor of Design in Architecture program will be announced on April 30. The program starts this fall at 麻豆原创 Valencia West with a class of at least 32 students.

For more information, visit.

The 100,000-square foot University Center opened its doors to 775 麻豆原创 students in August. The $23 million shared facility has more than 40 classrooms, a state-of-the-art testing center, computer labs, study rooms, faculty and staff offices and a caf茅. The new facility enables 麻豆原创 to expand it bachelor鈥檚 and graduate degree offerings in West Orlando.

Since 2006, 麻豆原创 has guaranteed admission to all Valencia graduates through DirectConnect to 麻豆原创, the most productive community college/university partnership in the nation. Nearly 27,000 Valencia students are currently participating in DirectConnect to 麻豆原创.

The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony are open to the public. The event will be held at the University Center (Building 11) and begins at 9 a.m. followed by tours of the facility.

For more information, call 407.582.5500.

The building (or Building 11 as it’s called), houses more than 40 classrooms, a state-of-the-art testing center, computer labs, study rooms, faculty and staff offices, and a caf茅. The building is expected to obtain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification due to its design, construction and energy-saving features.

麻豆原创 currently offers four undergraduate degrees on Valencia’s West Campus: Applied Science, Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, plus the junior year of Electrical Engineering. With the increased classroom space, 麻豆原创 will expand offerings to include programs such as Nursing, which will be added this fall.

Since 2006, 麻豆原创 has guaranteed admission to all Valencia graduates through DirectConnect to 麻豆原创, the most productive community college-university partnership in the country. Almost 19,000 Valencia students are now enrolled in DirectConnect to 麻豆原创.

On August 24, 麻豆原创 students will attend their first classes in the new facility. The ribbon-cutting ceremony聽is scheduled for October 29.