Students interested in a career in nursing have an improved path to their career goals thanks to an agreement between Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) and Cedar Crest College. The agreement between the two institutions facilitates the transfer of LCCC students who have completed their Associate in Applied Science in Nursing into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Cedar Crest College. Representatives from both institutions gathered Thursday, July 15 for a ceremonial signing in honor of the agreement.
“We are thrilled to establish this agreement with our long-standing partner, Lehigh Carbon Community College, to help nursing students reach their professional goals,” says Dr. Erika Davis, vice president of enrollment management and marketing at Cedar Crest College. “The transfer agreement reflects Cedar Crest’s commitments to educating the next generation of nursing leaders and providing access to exceptional educational opportunities.”
Students who complete the LCCC degree will receive junior status in the BSN program, generally allowing a full-time student to complete the requirements of the bachelor’s degree within four semesters. A total of 68 guaranteed credits will be accepted toward the BSN degree. Transfer students will be eligible for financial aid and housing on the same basis as Cedar Crest students.
In addition, students transferring under this agreement will be charged a discounted tuition rate of $500 per credit based on the 2021-22 academic year, approximately less than half the regular tuition rate. The rate is subject to annual tuition increases.
“Students entering the field of nursing will have a smooth path to earning their bachelor’s degree, thanks to this agreement,” says LCCC president Dr. Ann D. Bieber. “The demand for nurses who are prepared for the demands of this field will continue to grow, and we are happy to be able to facilitate that, working as partners with Cedar Crest.
“We are proud to welcome students who have excelled at LCCC and offer them a path to complete their Bachelor of Science at Cedar Crest’s School of Nursing, becoming the highly trained health care professionals that both Cedar Crest and LCCC are already known for,” concludes Cedar Crest College President Dr. Elizabeth M. Meade. “I am very excited to see the pipeline of fine nurses increase in the Lehigh Valley.”