Nursing students will have the ability to be enrolled in programs at Milwaukee Area Technical College and Cardinal Stritch University at the same time and be able to earn a bachelor of science in nursing in as little as 2.5 years under an agreement signed by officials at the two schools Monday.
The collaboration will admit its first students in the spring. Students begin by taking classes at MATC but are also admitted to Stritch’s program and earn Stritch credits at the same time. Once students complete their associate degree and receive their registered nurse license they are able to complete their bachelors by taking Stritch classes online.
“We are pleased to have this innovative articulation agreement with Cardinal Stritch University,” said Vicki Martin, MATC president. “Quickly preparing nurses with these credentials is critical to meet the workforce demands and to provide students an affordable educational path.”
Kelly Dries, Stritch Ruth S. Coleman College of Nursing and Health Sciences dean, said Stritch is the only four-year school in the state to offer the concurrent enrollment approach.
“This concurrent enrollment agreement not only enhances an already strong relationship between Stritch and MATC, it also reflects the type of timely, agile and innovative approach to nursing education in the 21st century that is necessary to prepare leaders in the field,” said Kathleen Rinehart, Stritch interim president.
Stritch also has concurrent enrollment agreements with Gateway Technical College and Madison College. Beyond the new agreement, MATC and Stritch also have traditional transfer agreements in place for business, criminal justice, hospitality management, respiratory therapy and teacher education programs.
