VGCC, two other colleges join NC A&T in nursing initiative


Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of Vance-Granville Community College, signs an agreement to launch the North Carolina Piedmont “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) initiative with N.C. A&T State University, Davidson County Community College and Guilford Technical Community College in a ceremony at A&T on Monday, June 1. Also signing from VGCC was Erica Jastrow, the department chair for Nursing, shown at left. (VGCC photo)

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of Vance-Granville Community College, signs an agreement to launch the North Carolina Piedmont “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) initiative with N.C. A&T State University, Davidson County Community College and Guilford Technical Community College in a ceremony at A&T on Monday, June 1. Also signing from VGCC was Erica Jastrow, the department chair for Nursing, shown at left. (VGCC photo)

GREENSBORO — Vance-Granville Community College has stepped up its efforts to help nursing students earn bachelor’s degrees through an initiative with North Carolina A&T State University and two other community colleges.

On Monday, June 1, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president, joined the chancellor of A&T and the presidents of Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) and Davidson County Community College (DCCC) at a ceremony in Greensboro to launch the North Carolina Piedmont “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) initiative.

Beginning with the fall 2016 semester, new nursing students will be able to apply simultaneously to both A&T and to Vance-Granville, or to one of the other community colleges. Up to 30 students a year will be admitted into the co-admission/continual enrollment program.

“Vance-Granville Community College is very pleased to be a part of this RIBN partnership,” said Dr. Williams, as the college representatives participated in the signing ceremony, held in A&T’s Alumni Event Center. “This is another great example of our community colleges and universities working together, and we are very proud to partner with North Carolina A&T State University on such a great collaborative opportunity for our future nurses.”

For three years, students will take one A&T online course per semester along with their community college courses, earning their associate’s degree in nursing from the community college, said Dr. Inez Tuck, dean of the A&T School of Nursing. Designated non-nursing courses completed at the community colleges will satisfy A&T course requirements toward the bachelor’s degree.

After passing the state licensure exam, the students will automatically be admitted to A&T for one year of additional nursing courses required for the bachelor’s degree in nursing. The courses include such subjects as gerontological and community health nursing, leadership and management, informatics, and research and evidence-based practice.

The fourth-year students will attend classes online or at the Union Square campus, now under construction in downtown Greensboro. The program will represent an expansion of A&T’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program.

“We all win with this initiative,” Dr. Harold L. Martin, the chancellor of A&T, said.

The initiative is one of nine such partnerships that have been launched in North Carolina since 2008 under the direction of the Foundation for Nursing Excellence to increase the educational preparation of North Carolina’s nursing workforce. FFNE, created by the North Carolina Board of Nursing in April 2002 as a non-profit corporation, was organized “to improve health outcomes for the citizens of North Carolina by enhancing the practice of nursing and to support projects whose efforts will provide new and innovative methodologies related to nursing regulation and safe, effective nursing practice.”

Dr. Tuck praised the contributions of the leaders of the nursing programs at the community colleges for joining her in the effort at A&T. Those directors include Erica Jastrow, department chair for nursing at VGCC. In addition to Dr. Williams and Dr. Martin, participants in the signing ceremony included Dr. Mary E. Rittling, DCCC president; and Dr. Randy Parker, GTCC president. Parker is a former president at VGCC.

“RIBN has created an initiative in North Carolina to help us move the quality of nursing care forward,” said Dr. Tuck, “and they have created another avenue for individuals to become not only registered nurses but to earn the baccalaureate degree. Our data, state and national reports indicate that the quality of nursing care increases greatly with the quality education of the nurse.”

The FFNE contends it is “imperative that North Carolina create new pathways for qualified nursing students entering associate degree programs to seamlessly progress to the completion of a baccalaureate degree at the beginning of their careers.” Polly Johnson, FFNE’s chief executive officer, was among those attending the ceremony.

VGCC had already entered into a partnership with A&T to allow graduates of its Associate Degree Nursing program to transition easily to the university’s four-year Bachelor’s program. Through the “RN to BSN” program started in 2013, a Registered Nurse is able to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing within as little as one year of earning his or her associate degree at VGCC, completing a majority of coursework online. VGCC was the first community college to sign an RN to BSN agreement with A&T.

“This is a very good day for nursing,” said Dr. Terry Ward, associate dean at A&T. “We have now opened up the gate for this distinguished university and for these distinguished colleges to make a difference in the community, in the state and in our nation.”