UAFS, University of the Ozarks agree to nursing partnership

The University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS) and the University of the Ozarks are partnering to bring more nurses to the region. The Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing formed an academic partnership with the UofO for students pursuing careers in nursing.

Under the 2+2 articulation agreement, announced Wednesday (Dec. 4) by the UAFS, students may complete the first two years of study at UofO and transfer all credit hours to UAFS to complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“This collaboration enhances the educational experience by combining the strengths of both institutions, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive, high-quality education and are well-prepared to meet the growing demand for practice-ready nurses,” said Dr. Paula Julian, associate dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences and executive director of the Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing.

The agreement was signed recently by UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley and UofO President Richard Dunsworth. Dunsworth cited the projected shortage of nurses in Arkansas and the region as the catalyst behind the articulation agreement. According to the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), Arkansas is projected to be short more than 3,500 registered nurses over the next decade. Oklahoma is projected to be short nearly 7,000, and Texas another 32,000.

“It is imperative that educational institutions positioned to fill this void come together and create opportunities,” Dunsworth said. “The 2+2 agreement between University of the Ozarks and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith will allow students another opportunity to fill this important need. It is our hope that these students will choose to stay and serve the River Valley, and we are excited to partner with UAFS in this exciting new venture.”

The agreement between Ozarks and UAFS marks the first articulation agreement signed between the two universities.

“This agreement is … a natural extension of the cooperative partnership between the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and the University of the Ozarks,” said Dr. D. Antonio Cantù, dean of the UAFS College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences. “The agreement will serve to build upon this partnership by not only establishing for students an efficacious academic pathway to the BSN program but also by providing them with, upon degree completion, a professional portal to a career in nursing, further increasing the pipeline of healthcare professionals in the River Valley Region and across the state.”

The agreement differs from regular college transfer because students can move straight into the nursing program, making it truly 2+2, instead of having to navigate prerequisites after they transfer which could add extra time, said Rachel Rodemann Putman, UAFS director of communications.

“In the end, the agreement helps qualified pre-nursing students at the University of the Ozarks advance to the next phase in their academic journey as nursing students in the BSN program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, bringing them one step closer to realizing their dream of entering the nursing profession,” Cantù said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 9% growth in nursing employment from 2020 to 2030, accounting for an estimated increase of 276,800 jobs in the field. The BLS suggests that about one in every 11 new jobs created will be in nursing.