Future nurses in Richland County now have the opportunity to further their education locally with a new agreement between The Ohio State University Mansfield and Ashland University.
The universities’ leaders signed an articulation agreement on Wednesday morning defining the transfer criteria for Ohio State Mansfield students who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Ashland University. The agreement allows students to obtain a minimum of 50 credit hours of core coursework at state college tuition rates, then, with a 3.0 GPA or higher, transfer to Ashland University at junior status.
“We’re delighted to be moving forward in this direction with Ohio State,” said Dr. Faye Grund, Dean of the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “It offers opportunities for the students who maybe are living in this region and need an opportunity to utilize their resources wisely.”
Once students enroll and complete degree requirements at Ohio State Mansfield, they are eligible to transfer directly to the nursing program at Ashland University via two different programs. The traditional nursing program provides 12 seats guaranteed for Ohio State Mansfield students per academic year, while the advanced entry nursing program provides eight seats guaranteed for qualified Ohio State Mansfield students per summer semester.
The advanced entry nursing program is a rigorous program with specific admission criteria allowing students to progress through summer, fall and spring semesters, graduating at the end of the following fall semester.
“As a newcomer to Ashland University and to this role as interim provost, what I think is so important is that the students in this decision and this articulation agreement are clearly at the center,” said Dr. Douglas Fiore, interim provost for Ashland University.
He continued, “This is a public institution and a private institution with the exact same goal, to provide the best educational opportunities for the students in the region. We were able to figure out a way to make our systems work together and give all the benefits of being an Ohio State University Mansfield student with all the benefits of being an Ashland University student. I hope this is one example of continued cooperation for all of the time these institutions exist together.”
Dr. Stephen Gavazzi, dean and director at Ohio State Mansfield, echoed Fiore’s sentiments by noting all parties are in alignment with what the articulation agreement represents. Gavazzi recognized Nursing Academic Coordinator Lyndsey Anderson, among many others, as a key player in helping the agreement come together.
“This year alone we have students coming from 44 out of the 88 counties in Ohio, so we don’t just serve North Central Ohio,” said Gavazzi. “We have a broad reach, but at the same time the largest group we continue to serve is students from Richland County, many of who are location-bound. Lyndsey has been tireless in her efforts to help especially location-bound students who are interested in health science related majors to be able to take advantage of the opportunity that exists right here in the Dwight Schar School of Nursing.”
Through the academic agreement, students will be able to transition seamlessly between the two institutions and complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing within four years.
“In many ways this represents another win for the community,” said Gavazzi. “The most important bottom line of all is we’re going to serve students and serve their interests, and by association serve the community’s interests. I really hope this is only the first of many more articulation agreements we will be signing.”
“We were able to figure out a way to make our systems work together and give all the benefits of being an Ohio State University Mansfield student with all the benefits of being an Ashland University student. I hope this is one example of continued cooperation for all of the time these institutions exist together,” said Dr. Douglas Fiore, Ashland University’s interim provost.
