Academic Progression in Nursing (APIN) Nursing Education Transfer Compact 2014 Implementation Survey: Summary Brief Submitted to the Massachusetts Action Coalition The MA Action Coalition (MAAC) is a partnership of the MA Department of Higher Education and the Organization of Nurse Leaders of MA & RI February 2015
Executive Summary Currently, about 55% of Massachusetts working nurses hold a Bachelor s of Science in Nursing (BSN 1 ) or higher. However, industry standards have called for this to be increased to 80% by 2020. To help facilitate nurses moving from an ADN to a BSN, in 2012 the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) established the Nursing Education Transfer Compact (NETC) Project Team as part of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The NETC Project Team was comprised of administrative, faculty and graduate student representatives from nursing programs at state community colleges, state universities, and the University of Massachusetts campuses as well as private institutions of higher education located in Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) was contracted by the DHE to provide evaluation and technical assistance services to the Academic Progression In Nursing Program of which the NETC is a primary initiative. This survey was intended to document the implementation progress of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact (NETC) as of November 2014. Leaders from the nine BSN programs (four at UMass campuses and five at state university campuses) were mailed a short survey which they could fill out either as a PDF form or as an online survey. Representatives from all nine programs responded. Information in this report is based on the version of NETC that was to be submitted for final approval by the Board of Higher Education in March 2015. Results In general, the implementation of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact is well underway. For Fall 2015, it is expected that all nine (100%) of the nine public BSN programs will be implementing the NETC. A majority of programs reported that they did not have to go through governance in order to implement the NETC and, of those that did, all had completed the process. In terms of the major components of the NETC, most programs are in alignment with most of the attributes. The strongest alignments are with attribute IV (total credits required for a BSN), attribute II (transfer of ADN credits), and attribute VII (1 st bachelor s degree and general education requirements) where all nine programs (100%) meet or exceed the baseline set by the NETC. The least strong point of alignment is with attribute III (MassTransfer General Education Block) where seven of the nine programs (78%) meet or exceed the baseline set by NETC. There still exists a wide degree of variation among programs when one looks at the details of nursing and nonnursing credits that can be transferred or that are required for a BSN. As this is the first reporting out of this kind of information, it is theorized that these variations may self-minimize over time due to market competition among programs. There still remain some strong areas for growth in communication about the NETC to program advisors and potential beneficiaries, as evidenced by the initial low number of participants, however this is common for any new initiative. Overall, the Nursing Education Transfer Compact has successfully completed its first implementation steps toward its goals. 1 Throughout this report we will use the abbreviation BSN to be inclusive of both BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) and BS/N (Bachelors of Science with a major in nursing) degrees. Similarly, ADN will be inclusive of both ADN (Associate s Degree in Nursing) and AD/N (Associate s Degree with a major in nursing). Research and Evaluation Group 2
Background Currently, about 55% of Massachusetts working nurses hold a Bachelor s of Science in Nursing (BSN 2 ) or higher. However, industry standards have called for this to be increased to 80% by 2020. To help facilitate nurses moving from an ADN to a BSN, in 2012 the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) established the Nursing Education Transfer Compact (NETC) Project Team as part of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The NETC Project Team was comprised of administrative, faculty and graduate student representatives from nursing programs at state community colleges, state universities, and the University of Massachusetts campuses as well as private institutions of higher education located in Massachusetts. The Project Team has drafted several iterations of the proposed Nursing Education Transfer Compact and sought feedback from key constituencies/stakeholders. Information in this report is based on the version of NETC that was to be submitted for final approval by the Board of Higher Education in March 2015. The Nursing Education Transfer Compact has five goals: 1. Create a seamless, cost effective, timely and transparent pathway for students to progress from community college Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at a state university or UMass; 2. Make the process of transferring credits from the ADN to the BSN transparent for students and administrators and mitigate the need for inter-campus articulation agreements between public two- and four-year nursing programs; 3. Reduce the overall time for transfer students to complete the BSN; 4. Eliminate any unnecessary duplication of coursework, thereby reducing costs for students; and 5. Rationalize curriculum pathways among the community colleges and state universities and UMass to clarify course selection. To facilitate these goals, the Nursing Education Transfer Compact has seven primary attributes: I. BORN-approved ADN degree programs require a maximum of 72 credits; II. III. All courses earned as part of BORN-approved public ADN degree program will transfer, without time restriction, as a body of knowledge and practical experience that is prerequisite to NCLEX licensure, to any upper-division nursing program at a state university or the University of Massachusetts; The 34-credit MassTransfer General Education Block may be completed at the community college and these credits will transfer to address the general education requirements of any upper-division nursing program at a state university or UMass; A. Community Colleges must indicate the completion status of the MassTransfer General Education Block on the transcripts of students seeking to enroll in an upper-division nursing program; 2 Throughout this report we will use the abbreviation BSN to be inclusive of both BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) and BS/N (Bachelors of Science with a major in nursing) degrees. Similarly, ADN will be inclusive of both ADN (Associate s Degree in Nursing) and AD/N (Associate s Degree with a major in nursing). Credits earned in a BORN-approved public ADN program offered at an institution of higher education will be transferred as a block, without a time restriction except for the 4-year public institution s policy on time limits for specific courses, i.e. sciences. Research and Evaluation Group 3
B. At the discretion of the receiving institution, two courses may be required to fulfill the general education requirements; IV. A maximum total of 128 credits will be required to earn the RN-to-BSN degree, unless additional specific course work in the major is required of all RN-to-BSN students at the receiving institution; V. The post-transfer course work required for completion of the RN-to-BSN degree includes: upper-division Nursing courses, related major courses and any electives that may be needed to meet minimum degree and residency requirements of the receiving institution; VI. The minimum GPA for admission to the BSN program is determined by each public higher education institution. Students who meet the institution s minimum GPA and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher receive the following benefits: A. No application fee B. No application essay C. Preferential admission to the RN/BSN program based on availability; VII. A prior bachelor s degree earned from a regionally accredited public 4-year institution qualifies as meeting the general education requirements in a BSN program at a state university or UMass nursing program. The following survey was intended to document the implementation progress of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact (NETC) as of November 2014. Leaders from the nine BSN programs (four at UMass campuses and five at state university campuses) were emailed a short survey which they could fill out either as a PDF form or as an online survey. Representatives from all nine programs responded. Responses were then tabulated and analyzed. Baccalaureate institutions may also substitute their own general education requirements for the MassTransfer General Education Block, if doing so will facilitate a more timely completion of the BSN degree. Research and Evaluation Group 4
Results Results related to the overall implementation of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact Four institutions reported they implemented the NETC and two of these institutions reported accepting students via the NETC in Fall 2014. One university responded they had implemented the NETC, but that the number of students participating was unknown. Another university responded they too had implemented the NETC, but that the number of students accepted through it was virtually none. Five institutions reported they did not enroll any students through the NETC: one of these is currently implementing the program and four of these anticipate implementing it in the Fall of 2015 (one of these institutions Salem State currently accepts students from a partner community college under a special articulation agreement that served as a basis for the NETC). Table 1 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 1: Have you accepted any students under the NETC? If yes, how many? If no, when is your anticipated date of implementation? # Students Fitchburg State University 8 20 accepted / 13 enrolled No Implementation is under review. Anticipated implementation is Fall 2015. The NETC is currently defined as having the MassTransfer Block. Given that, virtually none. General Education degree requirements allow RN-BS students to graduate earlier and so we use those instead. However, some RN-BS students have submitted MassTransfer application forms and so we waived the application fee and essay. 0 - Currently implementing UMass Dartmouth 0 - Anticipated implementation is Fall 2015 Unknown, RN-BS degree completion option currently expedites the admission and graduation process. No essay required. Anticipated implementation date is under review. Westfield State University 0 - Anticipated implementation is Fall 2015 0 - Anticipated implementation is Fall 2015 All the nine programs either did not have to go through governance to implement the NETC or, if they did have to go through governance, have completed the process. Six institutions (including all four of the UMass campuses) reported they did not have to go through governance in order to implement the NETC. Three institutions reported they did have to go through governance, and that they had completed that process. Table 2 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 2: Did you have to go through governance to implement the NETC? If yes, at what stage of this process are you? Stage of Process Fitchburg State University, went through for information and comments in May of 2014. Did not have to go through governance. Did not have to go through governance. Our arrangement was embedded in the approval of the RN-BSN flowsheet which did go through governance. Did not have to go through governance. Did not have to go through governance. UMass Dartmouth Did not have to go through governance. Did not have to go through governance. Research and Evaluation Group 5
Table 2: Did you have to go through governance to implement the NETC? If yes, at what stage of this process are you? Stage of Process Westfield State University We were required and did complete the governance process in October 2014., governance process has been completed. Results related to the seven primary attributes of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact I. BORN-approved ADN degree programs require a maximum of 72 credits; Not documented by survey. II. All courses earned as part of BORN-approved public ADN degree program will transfer, without time restriction, as a body of knowledge and practical experience that is prerequisite to NCLEX licensure, to any upper-division nursing program at a state university or the University of Massachusetts; All nine of the nine programs are in alignment with this component of the NETC. Of these, five do not place limits on nursing versus non-nursing credits while four have separate caps for the two categories. Table 3 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 3: Will your university transfer all of the earned credits/courses from an ADN (max. 72 credits)? If not, how many will your university accept? Credits Accepted Fitchburg State University We will accept a maximum of 75 credits total. This way students will meet our residency requirement. Students receive 35 credits for their nursing license and up to 55 additional non-nursing credits. (Not to exceed 90 credits) 30 nursing credits awarded via RN licensure, plus transfer credit for all nonremedial non-nursing courses. UMass Dartmouth Westfield State University We transfer in all transferrable non-nursing courses from the community college (up to a max of 73). Students are then granted a 42 credit block of Nursing Credits in addition to any individual courses that were transferred. Maximum 39 non nursing credits + 38 credits awarded for RN license 30 nursing credits awarded for RN licensure, plus transfer credit for all nonremedial non-nursing courses. Courses equivalent to required RN-BS nursing courses (e.g. Health Assessment) are individually reviewed. III. The 34-credit MassTransfer General Education Block may be completed at the community college and these credits will transfer to address the general education requirements of any upper-division nursing program at a state university or UMass; A. Community Colleges must indicate the completion status of the MassTransfer General Education Block on the transcripts of students seeking to enroll in an upper-division nursing program; Credits earned in a BORN-approved public ADN program offered at an institution of higher education will be transferred as a block, without a time restriction except for the 4-year public institution s policy on time limits for specific courses, i.e. sciences. Research and Evaluation Group 6
B. At the discretion of the receiving institution, two courses may be required to fulfill the general education requirements; Seven of the nine programs are in alignment with this component of the NETC. Of these seven, six still require additional credit hours (up to eight) of coursework to complete their general education requirements. Of the two programs that are not in alignment, one institution reported that the MassTransfer Bloack fulfills most of their General Education requirements while the other reported that their Gen Ed policy is currently under revision. Table 4 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 4: What is your policy regarding use of the MassTransfer Block (not MassTransfer Policy) to meet General Education requirements? Policy The Mass Transfer Block covers our General Ed requirements, except for 2 Fitchburg State University Global diversity courses. Accept MassTransfer Core Curriculum plus two additional General education courses (8 credits). MassTransfer Block students are exempt from General Education Requirements. MassTransfer Block fulfills all General Education requirements, except for diversity (which is usually transferred, ex: sociology) and integrative experience (which is one of the nursing major requirements). UMass Dartmouth Westfield State University MassTransfer Block fulfills most of General Education Requirements. Six credits of World Language or World Culture and three credits of Statistics are required. These credits can be transferred in. If a student comes to UMD with the MassTransfer Block, they are exempt from all Gen Eds (University Studies), except two upper levels. The University s General Education Requirements are currently under revision. It is anticipated that the Mass Transfer Block will cover all of the Breadth of Knowledge requirements and the required nursing courses will address the Essential Learning Outcomes (e.g. diversity, literacy, ethics). Students who have completed the MassTransfer Block may be required to complete 6 additional general education credits. WSU requires 2 additional General Ed courses beyond the MassTransfer Block (A Capstone Experience course and a General Ed course of the student's choice) IV. A maximum total of 128 credits will be required to earn the RN-to-BSN degree, unless additional specific course work in the major is required of all RN-to-BSN students at the receiving institution; All nine programs are in alignment with this component of the NETC. Six of the nine programs required a total of 120 credits to graduate with a BS/N. One program required 122 credits, one required 124 credits, and one required 128 credits. Table 5 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 5: What is your university's degree credit requirement for a BSN? Fitchburg State University 120 128 120 120 Baccalaureate institutions may also substitute their own general education requirements for the MassTransfer General Education Block, if doing so will facilitate a more timely completion of the BSN degree. Research and Evaluation Group 7
Table 5: What is your university's degree credit requirement for a BSN? 124 UMass Dartmouth 122 120 Westfield State University 120 120 V. The post-transfer course work required for completion of the RN-to-BSN degree includes: upper-division Nursing courses, related major courses and any electives that may be needed to meet minimum degree and residency requirements of the receiving institution; Not documented by survey. VI. The minimum GPA for admission to the BSN program is determined by each public higher education institution. Students who meet the institution s minimum GPA and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher receive the following benefits: A. No application fee B. No application essay C. Preferential admission to the RN/BSN program based on availability; Not documented by survey. VII. A prior bachelor s degree earned from a regionally accredited public 4-year institution qualifies as meeting the general education requirements in a BSN program at a state university or UMass nursing program. All nine programs are in alignment with this component of the NETC (eight currently and one as of Fall 2015). Table 6 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 6: Does a first bachelor's degree meet General Education requirements for your BSN program? If not, what additional courses does a student need to take? GE Requirement Fitchburg State University Treated same as Mass Transfer; 2 courses in Global Diversity required. (US accredited institutions only) UMass Dartmouth, a prior bachelor s degree meets the general education requirements Westfield State University Second bachelor students are not required to complete any additional general education requirements unless the courses are also required of the major. - as of class entering Fall 2015. Results related to detailed information on credits and transfer policies Of the nine programs, four required 45 credits, one required 32 credits and four required 30 credits to complete their university s residency requirement. Three of the four UMass programs required 45 credits while only one of the five state university programs required 45 credits. Table 7 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Research and Evaluation Group 8
Table 7: What is your university's residency requirement for a BSN? Fitchburg State University 45 32 30 45 30 UMass Dartmouth 45 45 Westfield State University 30 30 (of last 40) Of the nine programs, three required 32 or fewer BS nursing credits while six of the required 54 or more. These ranged from a low of 28 to a high of 72 with an average of about 50-51 credits. Table 8 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 8: What is the required number of BS nursing credits? Fitchburg State University 62 32 LPN-BSN 55 / RN-BSN 65 30 72 UMass Dartmouth 28 58 Westfield State University 54 60 Among the nine programs, the number of non-nursing credits required for a BS ranged from 43 to 65 with an average of about 56-57 credits. One institution responded that their required number of non-nursing credits was not specified. Only one institution required less than 50 credits. Three institutions required between 50 and 60 credits and three required more than 60 credits. One institution s required number of credits varied by track: their LPN-BSN track required 65 credits while their RN-BSN track required 55. Table 9 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 9: What is the required number of BS non-nursing credits? Fitchburg State University 58 Not specified LPN-BSN 65 / RN-BSN 55 60 52 UMass Dartmouth 56 62 Westfield State University 43 60 Research and Evaluation Group 9
Among the nine programs, the maximum number of nursing credits accepted for transfer ranged from a low of 29 to a high of 90 with one program stating it had no maximum and two others that their number of accepted credits was variable. Table 10 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 10: What is the maximum number of nursing credits accepted for transfer by your university? Fitchburg State University 30 No maximum No maximum, but usually accept no more than 50% of the required BSN nursing credits (LPN-BSN 55 / RN-BSN 65) 30 (for RNs) 42 (for RN-BSN program) UMass Dartmouth 38 No maximum, usually no more than 50% of the required BS nursing credits Westfield State University 90 29 Among the nine programs, the maximum number of non-nursing credits accepted for transfer ranged from a low of 39 to a high of 90 with one program stating it had no maximum and two others that their number of accepted credits was variable. Table 11 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 11: What is the maximum number of non-nursing credits accepted for transfer by your university? Fitchburg State University 45 (from a 4-yr school or NETC) No maximum 68 from 2-yr schools / 90 from 4-yr schools 60 (for RN-BSN degree) 52 UMass Dartmouth 39 No maximum Westfield State University 90 43 from 2-year schools / 61 from 4-year schools Among the nine programs, the maximum number of credits overall accepted for transfer ranged from a low of 72 to a high of 94 with one program stating it had no maximum and one other that their number of accepted credits was variable depending on whether they were from 2-year or 4-year institutions. Table 12 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 12: What is the total number of credits accepted for transfer by your university overall? Fitchburg State University 75 No maximum 90 90 94 UMass Dartmouth 77 75 Westfield State University 90 72 from 2-year schools / 90 from 4-year schools Research and Evaluation Group 10
The residency requirement for transfer students was the same as that for a BSN for all nine programs. Table 13 shows the exact answers respondents gave to the survey question. Table 13: What is your university's residency requirement for transfer students? If it is the same as the residency requirement for a BSN above, you can response "." Fitchburg State University UMass Dartmouth Westfield State University Conclusion In general, the implementation of the Nursing Education Transfer Compact is well underway. For Fall 2015, it is expected that all nine of the nine public BSN programs will be implementing the NETC. A majority of programs reported that they did not have to go through governance in order to implement the NETC and, of those that did, all had completed the process. In terms of the major components of the NETC, most programs are in alignment with most of the attributes. The strongest alignments are with attribute IV (total credits required for a BSN), attribute II (transfer of ADN credits), and attribute VII (1 st bachelor s degree and general education requirements) where all nine programs (100%) meet or exceed the baseline set by the NETC. The least strong point of alignment is with attribute III (MassTransfer General Education Block) where seven of the nine programs (78%) meet or exceed the baseline set by NETC. There still exists a wide degree of variation among programs when one looks at the details of nursing and nonnursing credits that can be transferred or that are required for a BSN. As this is the first reporting out of this kind of information, it is theorized that these variations may self-minimize over time due to market competition among programs. There still remain some strong areas for growth in communication about the NETC to program advisors and potential beneficiaries, as evidenced by the initial low number of participants, however this is common for any new initiative. Overall, the Nursing Education Transfer Compact has successfully completed its first implementation steps toward its goals. Research and Evaluation Group 11