By Rich Bockmann
Queensborough Community College has announced a new program beginning this fall that will enable the college’s qualified nursing students to transfer credits seamlessly to Hunter College in order to obtain their baccalaureate degrees.
To be accepted into the program, students in the first nursing course must have a strong academic record along with a recommendation from their Queensborough clinical instructors. There are currently 16 nursing students who plan to continue their studies at Hunter College through the new program.
Upon receiving their associate in applied science degree in nursing from Queensborough, students will begin their studies at Hunter having already completed their first six required credits as well as additional coursework required by the Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing. The colleges will share resources such as student advisers, counselors and faculty coordinators.
“This dual/joint program presents an exciting opportunity for bright, hardworking nursing students to obtain their baccalaureate degrees,” said Anne Marie Menendez, professor and chairwoman of the nursing department at QCC. “Our partnership with Hunter College dovetails perfectly with our goal to enable nursing students to become more marketable for the best jobs and to pave the way for other dual/joint programs to be established.”
The program is the first of its kind in the City University of New York, and was made possible by the Regional Model to Increase Baccalaureate Nursing — a grant project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson/Jonas foundation awarded in 2008.
Queensborough offers similar dual/joint degree programs in biotechnology, criminal justice and education with its sister CUNY institutions York College, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Queens College, respectively.
The college is also in the early stages of developing a dual/joint nursing program with York College.
CUNY announced it expects approximately 14,000 students to transfer within the university this fall semester.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
