YOUNGSTOWN YSU, Tri-C agree to share curriculum in nursing

The partnership offers educational opportunities while minimizing travel.
By ROB MEYER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University and Cuyahoga Community College are to sign an agreement today that will allow the schools to share their respective nursing curriculum.
The partnership gives Youngstown-area residents an opportunity to pursue an associate degree in applied science in nursing at Tri-C via distance-learning lectures beamed to YSU. In turn, Cleveland-area residents who already have an associate's degree in nursing can complete studies for a bachelor of science degree in nursing at YSU via distance-learning classes transmitted to Tri-C.
The agreement was to be announced today in the Atrium of YSU's Cushwa Hall. YSU President David C. Sweet and Tri-C President Jerry Sue Thornton were to exchange school sweat shirts at the signing.
Benefits
"Students benefit by having coursework offered close to home, and this allows both colleges to fulfill the growing employment demand for nursing," Thornton said.
Another benefit of the partnership is expanded opportunities for residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania to get a post-secondary degree while minimizing travel.
"Offering distance-learning classes and on-hand clinicals allows both colleges to stay competitive while providing students with the training they need to work in the nursing field," Thornton said.
Sweet said that the partnerships shows what can happen when two Northeast Ohio schools join forces.
"This represents yet another example of how colleges and universities in Northeast Ohio can work together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of academic services," Sweet said.
The associate degree program at Tri-C provides the opportunity for students to become registered nurses. Students can take general education courses through YSU and nursing courses through distance learning at Tri-C.
Nursing makes up the largest health care occupation with more than 2 million nurses nationwide. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 21 percent to 35 percent between 2000 and 2010.
rmeyer@vindy.com