Fairfield University and Norwalk Community College Schools of Nursing announce expanded partnership

December 21, 2004

As Connecticut faces a critical shortage of nurses, Fairfield University and Norwalk Community College have announced a partnership to encourage those entering the field to continue to pursue their nursing education for a bachelor's degree.

Fairfield University and Norwalk Community College are pleased to announce a new initiative to meet the challenge of preparing outstanding professionals with advanced degrees in nursing. The two institutions, which have enjoyed a long-standing relationship for many years, have joined forces to establish a partnership to facilitate the transition for graduates of the Norwalk Community College two-year nursing school program to transfer to Fairfield University to complete studies toward a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. The collaborative agreement between public (NCC) and private (Fairfield) institutions provides a seamless transition to further education of nurses throughout the state of Connecticut.

"In the Jesuit tradition of service, this collaboration addresses the need to expand nursing education and the number of professional and powerful nurse leaders in the region," said Jeanne M. Novotny, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., dean of Fairfield University's School of Nursing.

"Norwalk Community College and Fairfield University have had a strong tie for a long time. This is a normal outgrowth of that. It's great for our students," said Mary Schuler, Ed.D., R.N., director of the Norwalk Community College Division of Nursing and Allied Health.

The partnership allows NCC nursing school graduates to transfer 67 credits from NCC to Fairfield to apply toward a BSN degree. Fairfield University will also decrease NCC students' elective requirements from three to two. The students will complete 60 credits, or 19 classes, at Fairfield University to obtain their bachelor's degree.

With the new initiative, NCC students will have the opportunity to complete their BSN at their own pace in as few as twelve months at Fairfield University. Flexible curriculum planning with personalized advisement will be provided throughout the program. Creative strategies facilitate progression directly into Fairfield's nursing master's degree program for those students who want to further their education beyond a bachelor degree.

The partnership is facilitated through the Connecticut Articulation Agreement among all Connecticut Schools of Nursing. Fairfield and NCC have already begun to coordinate admission and student advising while the students are earning their Associate Degrees.

Media Contact: Dana Ambrosini at Fairfield University, 203-254-4000, ext. 2726
Madeline Barillo at Norwalk Community College, 203-857-7039

Vol. 37, No. 124

Founded in 1961, Norwalk Community College is one of the largest public, two-year colleges in Connecticut and a national model for educational partnerships, workforce training, and computer security and technology initiatives. NCC offers 40 programs leading to the Associate Degree and 27 specialized certificates. More than 11,000 students are enrolled in credit and non-credit classes at NCC annually. Program offerings include liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, information technology, nursing and allied health and early childhood education. Plans are underway for a new $22 million Norwalk Community College Center for Health and Science.

Fairfield University is a comprehensive Jesuit university that prepares undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students for leadership and service in a constantly changing world. In their 2005 editions, U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" ranks Fairfield third among universities with master's programs in the North and The Princeton Review names Fairfield one of the nation's 77 "best value" undergraduate institutions in "America's Best Value Colleges." Approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 37 states, 43 countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University's six schools. The University was founded in 1942 in the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, Connecticut.