Camarillo, Calif. Dec. 15, 2009 – CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced the receipt of a $250,000 grant for its Nursing Program. Funding was provided by the Foundation for California Community Colleges and Kaiser Permanente Fund for Health Education at the East Bay Community Foundation, through collaboration with the California Institute for Nursing and Health Care (CINHC) and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

The grant was one of seven awarded to California community college/university partnerships to develop model programs for fast track transitions from an associate nursing degree (ADN) to a bachelor nursing degree (BSN) program. This program will create a better educated nursing workforce as well as increase the quality of healthcare throughout the state.

CI is collaborating with Santa Barbara City College, Ventura College, and Moorpark College to discuss streamlining curriculum to make sure that all course prerequisites to continue on to a BSN would be met at the community college level and that all lower level general education requirements are also completed at the community college. This process allows students to move smoothly into upper division work without delay. Graduating with a BSN allows nursing students many more career options, such as public health nursing, and allows students to move directly into a Master’s program if he or she wishes.

Dr. Karen Jensen, Chair of CI’s Nursing Program, said a survey had been sent to nursing students in the three community colleges to see how many would like to continue on and get their BSN degree. Of the respondents, 90% answered affirmatively. Jensen remarked that this was another example of CI’s commitment to community partnerships and to service learning.

“Our nurses are out serving the community,” said Jensen. “They have currently been conducting four flu shot clinics. On one of those days they administered 900 injections.”

Dr. Jensen summed up the new program saying, “We feel this collaborative effort with the community colleges is sustainable and will allow nursing students, the community colleges, the University, and residents of Ventura County great advantages.”

CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CSUCI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.