Seton Hill, Westmoreland County Community College form nursing partnership

Westmoreland County Community College nursing students receiving registered-nurse degrees can pursue a bachelor’s degree at Seton Hill University, as part of a newly announced partnership.

The transfer agreement will allow students a chance to pre-plan their admissions and transfer options for a more seamless transition to Seton Hill’s bachelor’s degree program in registered nursing.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with institutions such as (WCCC) to help meet regional workforce needs and provide additional opportunities to students,” said Seton Hill President Mary Finger.

Upon admission to WCCC’s registered nursing program, students can apply immediately to Seton Hill’s bachelor’s program, with admission guaranteed for students who complete the associate of applied science program in nursing, pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s licensure exam and have a minimum 2.0 grade-point average.

“Articulation agreements are a great way for our students to achieve their goals,” said WCCC President Tuesday Stanley. Seamless pathways from Westmoreland to universities like Seton Hill provide tremendous opportunities for our students who wish to pursue a (bachelor’s degree), and it fills a workforce gap that the region is currently experiencing.”

Pennsylvania hospital systems have been grappling with a nursing shortage that was exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, but was predicted long before 2020.

According to data from the national nursing council in the past few years more than 200,000 nurses have left the field and another 20% indicated they might do so by 2027.