On January 19, Garden City Community College and all Kansas community colleges participated in a signing ceremony for a statewide transfer agreement with Fort Hays State University at the State Capital Building in Topeka.
This agreement ensures seamless transfer and guaranteed admission for Registered Nurse (RN)
students from each community college into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at FHSU.
“This unique partnership is a great example of higher education collaborating for the best interest of student,” said GCCC President Ryan Ruda. “This program-to-program articulation agreement provides a seamless pathway for students who complete their RN degree at GCCC with guaranteed admission into the BSN program at FHSU.”
Data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing indicates that 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic. The Kansas Department of Labor’s 2022 Occupational Outlook report shows that by 2026, the state will face a shortfall of more than 18,000 registered nurses. The impact in rural Kansas is especially dire, and hospitals now face nursing shortages that could lead to closures.
“There exists a critical shortage of trained nurses in Kansas,” Ruda said. “This partnership is another example of how Garden City Community College and Fort Hays State University collaborate to meet industry needs and serve students in rural Western Kansas.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Fort Hays State University will provide guaranteed admission to students who have completed an accredited nursing program, hold a current Registered Nurse (RN) license, and meet all other FHSU admission requirements.
FHSU also recently received approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing to move from 65 to 90 students admitted per year to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Learn more about the GCCC Nursing Program online or by calling 620-276-9560. Learn more about the FHSU Nursing Program online or by calling 785-628-4256.
