UNCW’s online nursing program is expanding to create an inter-university collaboration that is the first of its kind in the state and possibly the first in the nation. Since 1998, UNCW’s nursing program has included several distance learning programs, which allows nursing professionals to take the necessary courses to obtain their Bachelor of Science. Now, through a program collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and with a grant from the UNC office of the president, some students will find it even easier to continue their nursing education. UNCW’s and UNCC’s collaboration involves examining the nursing courses offered at both universities, and then creating four new core distance education classes, which carry enough weight to allow students to turn an associate’s degree into a bachelor’s degree. Both universities will accept the courses, so student s will receive credit whether they graduate from UNCW or UNCC. The need for baccalaureate-prepared nurses is critical. Research has shown that nurses who have a bachelor’s degree provide care that is more comprehensive in manner, said Dr. Bettie Glenn, associate dean for academic affairs at UNCW. “We wanted to create more flexibility and access, and work with those individuals (that wished to obtain their BS),” Glenn said. According to data from the North Carolina Center for Nursing, 68 percent of the 70,000 registered nurses working in NC have associate degrees in nursing. Nurses who have associate degrees may be granted the same opportunities as graduates of a baccalaureate program, however, the majority of health-related agencies wish to hire nurses with advanced education to fill managerial positions, Glenn said. The collaboration was made possible through a $25,000 grant designed to “spur collaborative program planning.” Through collaborative program planning, resources from both schools are used, which allows the program to run more efficiently. Glenn, along with Dr. Virginia Adams, dean of UNCW’s School of Nursing, and Dr. Sonya Hardin, assistant professor at UNCC, have already created the first of the four core classes. The course, leadership and management, comes with instruction via the Internet and a CD disk, which contains instructional materials with visual and audioenhancements. “By combining our resources, UNC Charlotte and UNC Wilmington are able to offer an online program that further enhances access to education,” said Dr. Sue Bishop, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at UNCC. Several students said that the online nursing classes are really beneficial. “Nursing is so self-initiated. We get out (of the nursing program) what we want,” said senior Misty Stoker. Additionally, being a student in an online course is like having a one-on-one student-teacher relationship, Glenn said. “We find that students are more likely to ask certain questions through e-mail or chat groups,” she said.