Dr. Shelia Marable, LS associate dean of health professions, President Perry Ward, and Dr. Sara Barger, dean of UA's Capstone College of Nursing formalized an articulation agreement on Wednesday establishing a more convenient avenue for students to earn advanced degrees in nursing. Others attending included: Dr. Bruce Crawford, Dr. Sherri Davis, Dr. Alice Milton, Dr. Rebecca Ephraim and Mrs. Lois Scott, from Lawson State; and Dr. Jeanette VanderMeer, UA RN mobility coordinator and Barrett Taylor, UA RN mentoring counselor.

UA, Lawson Teaming Up To Offer Advanced Nursing Degrees

Friday, March 31, 2006

ANNE RUISI

News staff writer

Registered nurses now can pursue higher degrees in nursing at the University of Alabama without ever setting foot on the Tuscaloosa campus, thanks to a partnership with Lawson State Community College.

An agreement signed Wednesday allows Lawson State students to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing at UA via online courses, said Shelia Marable, Lawson's associate dean of health professions.

"We're pleased with it because it provides additional opportunities for our students," said Geri H. Albright, Lawson State spokeswoman, of the agreement.

The first students will be enrolled in August, at the start of the new school year, Marable said.

Since the students will have completed basic general education requirements at Lawson State, they'll take the higher level courses at UA that are needed for a bachelor's or master's degree, Marable said. Advanced academics aren't the only resource for the Lawson nursing students, Marable said. Besides their advisors at Lawson State, the nursing students also will have an adviser at UA.

The university has existing partnerships with several other community colleges in Alabama, including Jefferson State, Shelton State and Gadsden State.

Lawson State's health professions department enjoys an admirable reputation for its programs, particularly nursing. The vast majority of its graduates - averaging from 93 percent to 100 percent in a given year - pass state board and licensing exams, Marable said.

About 150 students are studying to be licensed practical nurses and registered nurses, Marable said. Twenty-five students are enrolled in the dental assistant program and 15 in the emergency medical technician program.

E-mail: aruisi@bhamnews.com.

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