The UNMC College of Nursing has partnered with school districts across the state to increase nurse education opportunities for students in rural Nebraska.
To date, the College of Nursing has entered into memorandums of understanding for early admission pathways with Scottsbluff Public Schools, Gering Public Schools, McCook Public Schools, Kearney Public Schools, Kearney Catholic High School, Lexington Public Schools, Sidney Public Schools, Columbus Public Schools and the Pathways 2 Tomorrow Consortium.
These agreements allow the college a direct connect to high school students, providing them information regarding admission to the college’s BSN program and offering them a reserved seat at the Norfolk, Kearney, or Scottsbluff campuses, provided students complete all required prerequisites and meet UNMC College of Nursing admission requirements.
“As a first-generation college student raised in rural Arkansas, I understand the value of educational opportunities,” Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, dean and professor at the UNMC College of Nursing, said. “Building strong partnerships with our rural school systems is more than outreach, it’s an investment in the future of Nebraskans.
“By creating early pathways into our UNMC College of Nursing, we are opening doors for local students to see themselves as future nurses and leaders within their own communities. These collaborations ensure that talent is nurtured close to home, access to opportunity is expanded and the next generation of nurses reflects the strength and diversity of the communities they will serve.”