NEWBURGH – An arrangement between SUNY Orange and SUNY Empire State College has created a new Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) transfer program agreement giving SUNY Orange nursing graduates and senior nursing students with an active RN license a direct path to an online bachelor of science in nursing degree at SUNY Empire.
With the new partnership, interested SUNY Orange nursing graduates will automatically be enrolled in SUNY Empire State College’s BSN program and SUNY Empire will waive application fees. The partnership provides scholarship options and allows the transfer of 63 credits earned at SUNY Orange to SUNY Empire.
Partnership students must have completed a degree in nursing and have an active New York state nursing license. SUNY Empire will have dedicated office space on the SUNY Orange Newburgh, for student needs.
Each year, SUNY Orange graduates approximately 100 students from its nursing program, with roughly two-thirds completing their studies in Middletown and the remainder matriculating on the Newburgh campus. In 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, 97.7 percent of SUNY Orange nursing grads passed the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) on their first attempt.
State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras said, “With 11 million more nurses needed to avoid a shortage of critical healthcare professionals in our country, we must figure out how to bring programs together to make sure our nursing students have all the opportunities available to complete their degrees,” adding The collaboration between SUNY Empire State College and SUNY Orange will unlock so many opportunities to nursing students in the region. I want to thank President Young and President Gonyea for making this pathway a reality.”
State Senator James Skoufis said, “The college’s new transfer agreement will enable local nursing students to seamlessly achieve advanced nursing degrees, a win for Orange County and a win for healthcare providers all over this region.”
State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, a Registered Nurse, touted the benefits of the new option, saying “I know the dedication and strength it takes to do the job. This new agreement between SUNY Orange and SUNY Empire will help pave the way for more nurses to get into the field to help care for our friends and neighbors.”
