ISU/Albertson College Partner to Offer Nursing Program

Boise - Albertson College of Idaho students will soon have the opportunity to earn a liberal arts degree while pursuing a career in nursing through ISU Boise Center's Fast Track nursing program.

ACI President Bob Hoover and ISU President Richard Bowen signed an agreement Dec. 18 that moves both institutions closer to offering a cooperative nursing program.

"This is the first of many programs we hope to offer cooperatively," said Robin Dodson, ISU Boise Center chief academic officer.

The program will help fill the growing nursing shortage in the U.S. and the Treasure Valley. By 2020, Idaho's nursing shortage is expected to be twice that of the national rate, according to the Idaho Commission on Nursing and Nursing Education. Demand for nurses in the Treasure Valley is expected to exceed supply sometime between 2005 and 2007.

The Idaho State Board of Education approved a cooperative agreement between the two schools on Dec. 5, 2003. Final approval for the program by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is anticipated in early 2004 and, once approved, would be offered beginning Fall 2004.

Students who complete the joint program would simultaneously earn two Bachelor's degrees: a Bachelor's degree form ACI and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing through the ISU Boise Center Fast Track nursing program. The entire program would be completed in the Treasure Valley, and take approximately four and a half years.

ISU Boise Center conferred degrees on the first Fast Track nursing class -- two men and eight women-- Dec. 9 in Boise. The program began in January 2002 as a two-year offering. In an effort to attract more students to the Fast Track program it has been compressed to a 16 month, or four-semester schedule.