Featured | Health Education and Human Sciences | NewsDecember 04, 2024

UAFS and the University of the Ozarks Team Up for Nursing

Written By: Rachel Putman

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing has formed a new academic partnership with the University of the Ozarks for students pursuing careers in nursing. 

Under the 2+2 articulation agreement, students complete the first two years of study at U of O and transfer all credit hours to UAFS to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

"The 2+2 agreement between the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and the University of the Ozarks creates a seamless pathway for students, providing them with a clear, structured route to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree,” 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. “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." 

The agreement was signed recently by UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley and U of O President Richard Dunsworth. 

Dunsworth cited the projected shortage of nurses in Arkansas and the region as the catalyst behind the articulation agreement with UAFS. 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 by nearly 7,000, and Texas will be 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 the 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 articulation agreement between UAFS and Ozarks is the first between the two universities.

“This agreement is the result of the collaborative efforts of the respective leadership teams at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and the University of the Ozarks. It truly 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a nine percent growth in nursing employment from 2020 to 2030, accounting for an estimated increase of 276,800 jobs. The BLS suggests that about one in every eleven new jobs created will be in nursing.

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• College of Health Education and Human Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Nursing