The Community College of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island have signed a memorandum of understanding that will provide CCRI nursing students in their last semester guaranteed admission into URI’s Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program.

The Nursing Education Partnership ensures that CCRI graduates who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree are automatically accepted once their associate degree is officially recorded; they may begin studies immediately, taking the licensing exam to become a registered nurse while enrolled versus having to wait until they are licensed.

Students will have the option of completing their bachelor’s degree through traditional classroom option or URI’s new “RN to BS in Nursing online” completion program.

A total of 75 course credits will be eligible for transfer. “Admitted students receive academic equivalencies, program-specific degree plans, potential scholarships and other benefits that extend beyond the academic experience,” according to the memorandum. “It is the specific intention of URI and CCRI that the Nursing Education Partnership be expansive in scope and flexible.”

The Institute of Medicine has recommended a baccalaureate degree in nursing and has encouraged associate degree programs to partner with baccalaureate programs to create seamless pathways for their graduates to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

“CCRI is proud to join our state’s flagship university in creating an efficient way for our nursing students to continue their education in the public higher education system, thus increasing both their knowledge and clinical expertise as well as their marketability as they seek employment,” CCRI Vice President for Academic Affairs Greg Lamontagne said in a statement.