Defiance College and Northwest State
to partner on new nursing program

An innovative partnership between Defiance College and Northwest State Community College will seek to address a critical need for nurses in the region. The joint announcement was made February 5, 2008 by the presidents of both schools.

The collaboration of public and private colleges will provide a unique program offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In partnership with Northwest State, Defiance College will offer a bachelor of science in nursing in a four-year format for students with no prior college experience. Area hospitals are supporting the 1+2+1 nursing program in helping to fund nursing students.

The BSN program will offer expanded career options for persons in the nursing field by combining the technical aspects of nursing with leadership skills necessary to lead in today’s dynamic health care environments.

Students will take their first year at Defiance College, their second and third years at Northwest State, and then return to Defiance for their fourth and final year.

The 1+2+1 program will lead to RN (registered nurse) licensure from Northwest State followed by the BSN degree from Defiance. The two years at Northwest State will prepare students with clinical training through an associate degree in nursing. The first and fourth years at Defiance will provide baccalaureate general education requirements as well as courses in nursing leadership, management, research and community health.

Students returning to DC for the fourth year must have completed the associate degree program at Northwest State as well as successfully completed the national licensure exam for registered nurses. Last year, Northwest State students had a 100
percent pass rate on the exam.

“We have been hoping for several years to offer a baccalaureate nursing program at Defiance because it fits so well with who we are as an institution,” said Defiance president Dr. Gerald Wood. “We are excited to be able to work together with Northwest State Community College as well as hospitals in the region to meet this critical community need.”

Dr. Thomas Stuckey, president of Northwest State Community College, said, "We are pleased and proud of this new program, especially the nature of Defiance College and Northwest State combining so many good ideas, the elaborate teamwork involved, and a big step forward in our continued, vigorous partnership." 

The nursing program is designed to be financially affordable for students. Northwest State will provide its full-tuition Presidential Scholarship for qualifying students during their attendance at NSCC.

In addition to the 1+2+1 program, Defiance College will offer a BSN completion program designed for associate degree-prepared nurses who have graduated from an accredited nursing program and have current active RN licensure. Major courses will be offered in a fast-track format with courses held one day per week to accommodate various work schedules. Some courses may be offered in a hybrid format using both online and face to face classroom instruction. General education courses and electives will also be available through Defiance’s day/evening and Weekend College programs.

Defiance College is an independent, liberal arts institution offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest .

About 5,000 students will be enrolled this academic year at the Northwest State Community College main campus near Archbold as well as attending campus centers in Defiance, Metamora and Van Wert.  Northwest State is a public, two-year state campus chartered 40 years ago in 1968.  More than one third of all NSCC students are taking at least one college class online. About 86 percent of all Northwest State graduates live and work in the five-county region. The average age of all students is 28.