The Florida State Board of Education recently approved HCC’s application to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the first bachelor’s degree offering in the College’s 53-year history. This is a historic moment in the life of the College. We are particularly thrilled to offer this degree, since nurses are more important to our community and our world than ever before.
Labor market projections indicate an annual increase in demand of more than 1,271 job openings in our service area, making it crucial that HCC fill the void and meet the needs of regional employers. The new program will roll out this fall, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This effort is backed by tremendous community support, including from the University of South Florida and many Tampa Bay health care organizations.
But students in the program’s first cohort will need individual support as well if they are to succeed. As with all new academic offerings, the BSN program will not be eligible for federal funding for students until nine months to a year after its launch, so financial help from the community is needed.
We encourage you to join us to show that #nursesrock! Check back soon for ways you can help this historic first class of BSNs at HCC!