Articulation Agreement Between South Texas College Associate Degree Nursing Program and The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Nursing Introduction This articulation agreement formally recognizes that South Texas College ( STC ) on behalf of its Associate Degree Nursing ( STC-ADN ) Program and the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center ( TAMHSC ), a part of the Texas A&M University System ( TAMUS ), an agency of the State of Texas, on behalf of the College of Nursing ( HSC-CON ), are educational partners committed to providing educational opportunities for students transferring between our institutions. This agreement is intended to create and maintain smooth transfer without the need to repeat successfully completed courses. STC and TAMHSC are each sometimes referred to as a Party and collectively sometimes referred to as the Parties. Purpose/Overall Intent Whereas STC offers an associate degree program in Nursing and the HSC-CON offers a baccalaureate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, both serving a specific region of the state where demand for nursing professionals at all levels is high, a collaborative partnership by both parties will have a two-fold beneficial outcome. By collaborating, STC- ADN and the HSC-CON will join forces to address this critical workforce need, and they will also deliver educational goals found in Closing the Gaps, the state-wide plan adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This collaboration will also enable both parties to enhance effective delivery of their respective missions by serving the heretofore-unmet health care needs of the Central Texas Region. This articulation agreement clarifies mutually accepted courses and equivalents, thus enhancing the quality and accessibility of higher education, ensuring a smooth successful transition process, and strengthening the partnership between the parties. The purpose of this agreement is so set forth the principles of mutual understanding that are necessary to form, maintain, and communicate transfer articulation information between STC-ADN and the HSC-CON. This agreement describes the terms and conditions involved in transferring from STC-ADN to the HSC-CON, as well as the joint responsibilities of both parties. Terms, Conditions and Transfer Elements STC agrees to: 1. Establish a joint admissions process whereby Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students who in their last semester of coursework at STC-ADN have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and meet all other requirements for admission, including the school s General Education requirements, will be admitted to HSC-CON s RN-to-BSN program based on the sears available and the competitiveness of the applicant pool.
2. Assist in advising STC-ADN students in this program regarding the requirements for entry into the HSC-CON s RN-to-BSN program. 3. Communicate to students enrolling in the RN-to-BSN program about HSC-CON academic requirements, policies, procedures, tuition and fees that will apply and may be subject to change, and to inform students that HSC-CON future offerings cannot be guaranteed. 4. Maintain ongoing collaboration and monitoring of the program through the HSC-CON Dean of the College of Nursing, the STC-ADN Program Chair, the Division Dean. 5. Assist HSC-CON in arranging visits on STC-ADN's campus with prospective BSN students. 6. Schedule appointments through the designated representative with STC-ADN students, faculty and staff for the purposes of sharing information, discussing ideas, and other activities of mutual interest to our respective programs. 7. STC is an equal opportunity institution, and shall not discriminate unlawfully against any HSC-CON student, applicant, or employee, nor shall it deny the benefits provided by its own degree-seeking student to any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, age, or gender. TAMHSC agrees to: 1. Establish a joint admission process whereby STC-ADN students wo in their last semester of coursework at STC- ADN have a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and meet all of HSC-CON s admissions requirements for admission, including the school s General Education requirements, will be admitted to the RNto-BSN program based on the sears available and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. 2. Accept credit hours earned at STC as described below and specified in the Curriculum Chart (See Appendix A): 25 SCH General Education coursework 36 SCH earned in Associate of Applied Science degree 3. Assist STC students with advising on the HSC-CON admission requirements at a location agreed upon by both parties at specified times. Priority deadline for STC students is January 15 th for summer entrance to the HSC- CON program. The HSC-CON admits RN-to-BSN students only in the summer term. STC students will be required to complete an application through the Nursing Central Application Service, submit official transcripts, and additional documentation as required. 4. Assist STC students in transitioning into the RN-to-BSN program. This may involve informing students of and assisting them with financial aid, scholarship applications, and course registration. 5. Enroll STC students who meet admission requirements for entry to the first summer term prior to their successful completion of the Registered Nurse national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN). Should a student not pass the NCLEX-RN by the first class day of the fall term, students will not be allowed to progress in the program. 6. Maintain ongoing collaboration and monitoring of the program through the HSC-CON Dean in the College of Nursing and the STC Division Chair of the Allied Health Division and the Director of the AND Program. 7. Arrange and coordinate academic accommodations and disability services for qualified students enrolled in HSC- CON courses.
8. Notify students involved in the program that HSC-CON academic requirements, policies, procedures, tuition and fees are subject to change. Location of changed information can be found on the HSC-CON website, catalogs, or other locations. 9. Report annually in May on the enrollment and academic progress of STC-AND transfer students in the RN-to- BSN degree program. The report would include the number of RN-to-BSN students and a breakdown of GPA for STC-ADN students as compared to all other transfer students. This information shall be furnished within the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. These data may be incorporated into the STC institutional effectiveness studies. 10. HSC-CON is an equal opportunity institution, and shall not discriminate unlawfully against any STC student, applicant, or employee, nor shall it deny the benefits provided by its own degree seeking student to any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, age or gender. Joint Responsibilities STC and TAMHSC agree to: Confer regularly to update Course Equivalency Guides, Transfer Guides, and transfer admission information to be used in subsequent academic years, and to consider any need for amendments. Execution and Modification: This Agreement is binding only when signed by both parties. Any modifications or amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties. Assignment: This Agreement, with the rights and privileges it creates, is assignable only with the written consent of both parties. Force Majeure: Each party shall be excused from any breach of this Agreement which is proximately caused by government regulation, war, strike, act of God, or other similar circumstance normally deemed outside the control of wellmanaged businesses. Public Information: Both Parties agree that they are obligated to strictly comply with the Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, in responding to any request for public information pertaining to this agreement. Severability: If any of the provisions of this Agreement in the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is rendered or declared illegal for any reason, or shall be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby, shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law. Dispute Resolution: The dispute resolution process provided in Chapter 2260, Texas Government Code, and the related rules adopted by the Texas Attorney General pursuant to Chapter 2260, shall be used by TAMHSC and STC to attempt to resolve any claim for breach of contract made by STC-ADN that cannot be resolved in the ordinary course of business. STC or TAMHSC shall submit written notice of a claim of breach under this Chapter to the Vice President for Finance and Administration of the TAMHSC or STC, who shall examined either Party s claim and any counterclaim and negotiate with each other in an effort to resolve the claim.
Governing Law and Venue: The validity of this Agreement and all matters pertaining thereto, including but not limited to, matters of performance, non-performance, breach, remedies, procedures, rights, duties and interpretation or construction, shall be governed by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas. Pursuant to Section 85.18, Texas Education Code, venue for any suit filed against TAMHSC shall be in the county in which the primary office of the chief executive officer of TAMHSC is located, namely, Brazos County, Texas. Non-Waiver: STC and TAMHSC expressly acknowledge that both Parties are agencies of the State of Texas and nothing in this Agreement will be construed as a waiver or relinquishment by TAMHSC or STC of its right to claim such exemptions, privileges, and immunities as may be provided by law. Provisions: If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be in any way affected or impaired thereby. Notice: Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing, and shall be deemed to be delivered (whether actually received or not) when deposited with the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested, and addressed to the intended recipient at the address set out below. Notice may also be given by regular mail, personal delivery, courier delivery, facsimile transmission, email or other commercially reasonable means and will be effective when actually received. HSC-CON and STC-ADN can change their respective notice address by sending to the other party a notice of new address. Notices should be addressed as follows South Texas College Associate Degree Nursing Program Jayson Valerio, Interim Dean of Nursing and Allied Health 3201 W. Pecan Blvd McAllen, Texas 78502 Telephone: 956.872.3142 Email: jaysonva@southtexascollege.edu Texas A&M Health Science Centers College of Nursing Sharon Wilkerson, Ph.D., RN Dean and Professor Health Professions Education Building 8447 State Highway 47, suite 405 Bryan, TX 77847 Telephone: 979-436-0110 Fax: 979-436-0098 Email: wilkerson@hamtsc.edu Terms of Agreement: This agreement shall be in effect when signatures are complete and shall remain in effect through midnight August 31, 2015 or until it is earlier discontinued by either party by giving written notification at least one year prior to cancellation. This will enable both parties to inform students, faculty and staff of changes and help students transfer before an agreement ends or significantly changes. Either party may initiate termination of this joint agreement.
South Texas College The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center on behalf of the College of Nursing Jayson Valerio Date Sharon Wilkerson, Ph.D., RN Date Interim Dean of NAH Dean, College of Nursing Anahid Petrosian Date Michael Stephenson, Ph.D. Date Interim Vice President, Academic Affairs Associate Provost, Academic Affairs
APPENDIX A
Texas A&M Health Sciences Center (HSC) College of Nursing South Texas College Associate Degree Nursing Program A.D.N. to B.S.N. Nursing Curriculum TYPE South Texas College Texas A&M HSC Notes Requirements Requirements General Education *BIOL 1408 Not required by HSC ENGL 1301 ENGL 1301 MATH 1414 MATH 1414 Would meet one MATH requirement PSYC 2314 PSYC 2314 BIOL 2401 BIOL 2401 BIOL 2421 BIOL 2421 Humanities Elective Humanities Elective HSC prefers PHIL 2306 or 1301 *SPCH 1311 Not required by HSC Total General Education 25 Credit Hours 25 credits will be accepted from South * Courses that are not transferrable Texas College Additional Texas A&M HSC prerequisite Course Requirements Total Additional Prerequisites Required by HSC South Texas College Associate Degree Nursing Courses ADN Nursing Courses Texas A&M HSC Nursing Courses RNSG 1413 RNSG 1362 RNSG 1205 RNSG 2213 RNSG 1341 RNSG 2262 RNSG 2263 RNSG 1244 RNSG 2201 RNSG 1251 RNSG 2260 RNSG 2261 RNSG 2121 RNSG 2331 RNSG 2163 RNSG 2363 36 SCH * Courses that are not transferrable NURS 460 NURS 461 NURS 462 NURS 463 NURS 464 NURS 465 NURS 466 NURS 467 NURS 468 ENGL 1302 or 2311 Creative Arts 3 credits HIST 1301 HIST 1302 or 2301 GOVT 2301 GOVT 2302 PSYC 2301 BIOL 1322 CHEM 1411 MATH 1324 or 1442 31-32 SCH 31-32 additional credits will be required for entry to the HSC program RNSG 1209 Intro to Nursing (2 credits) will not transfer. Pharmacology (3 credits) will not transfer as the HSC teaches Pharmacology in NURS 462 as a 4 credit course 36 credits accepted from South Texas College HSC Nursing Courses 30 SCH TOTALS 61 SCH 61-62 SCH Upon transfer of credits and completion of BSN coursework, transcript would reflect 122 hour curriculum.