KCON signs concurrent enrollment agreement with MCC

Leaders from Grand Valley and Muskegon Community College signed a concurrent enrollment agreement April 27 that will provide MCC students with a seamless transition to a bachelor's degree in nursing.

The agreement is between MCC's Applied Science Nursing program and Grand Valley's Kirkhof College of Nursing's RN to BSN program. 

Cynthia McCurren, dean of KCON, said this collaboration will help meet a need for educated nurse leaders in Michigan, and address an Institute of Medicine report challenging states to increase the percentage of nurses with bachelor’s degrees to 80 percent by 2020.

“This is an opportunity where we bring respect and the true spirit of collaboration to the table,” McCurren said during the signing event at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. “It’s not to compete but to work together and share resources.”

The agreement will provide MCC students who are interested in participating in concurrent enrollment with resources and coordinated advising services between the two nursing programs.

Dale Nesbary, president of MCC, said the agreement helps students achieve their goal of earning a bachelor's degree while taking classes in Muskegon.

"Muskegon Community College is pleased to join with Grand Valley in this effort to meet the health care needs of West Michigan," Nesbary said. "This agreement will provide efficient and effective academic pathways for our students, as well as deliver additional nursing talent for the many health care institutions in our region."

Gayle R. Davis, provost and executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, welcomed the contingent of MCC and KCON nursing faculty members to CHS.

"Grand Valley is committed to this partnership and will be meeting regularly to identify then support students who want to participate in concurrent enrollment," Davis said.