North Carolina A&T State University and Vance-Granville Community College have formed a partnership that will allow graduates of VGCC’s associate degree nursing program to easily transition to N.C. A&T’s four-year nursing degree program.

Representatives from the two institutions formally signed an agreement in a ceremony Feb. 8, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s main campus. Through this new RN to BSN partnership program, a registered nurse will be able to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing within one calendar year of earning his or her associate degree at VGCC, if the prerequisites have been met.

The bilateral articulation agreement, as such partnerships that allow students to transfer credits are known, is the first between A&T and VGCC, although the UNC and community college systems enjoy a comprehensive articulation agreement that allows VGCC students to smoothly transfer general education credits to all of the state’s four-year public universities.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity for N.C. A&T and Vance-Granville Community College to educate well-prepared nurses to meet the growing health care needs across our region and nation,” said A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “We want to ensure that graduates of the VGCC nursing program make a seamless transition into the bachelor of science nursing completion program at A&T.”

Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC, said the partnership will mean greater opportunities for their nursing students to succeed and to grow as professionals.

Advising of VGCC students interested in this new opportunity will begin this summer. New VGCC graduates could potentially enroll in the RN to BSN program at A&T as early as the fall 2014 semester. Once students transfer, they will be able to complete a majority of their coursework online, while also traveling to the university’s campus in Greensboro one day per week for traditional face-to-face classes.

Students who participate in the program will combine their VGCC nursing education with a university curriculum that incorporates principles of leadership and ethics, and focuses on the management of patient populations using emerging technologies. Earning a BSN is particularly attractive for registered nurses today, as hospitals attempt to gain or maintain the coveted “magnet status,” which is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. As a way to earn magnet accreditation, many hospitals are encouraging current and future employees to advance their education and professional development through credentials such as a BSN degree.

North Carolina A&T State University will break ground for a new student health center at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at the southeast corner of Benbow Road and Bluford Street.

The two-story, 27,548-square-foot facility will replace the existing health center, Sebastian Health Center, which is an 11,000 square-foot building that was constructed in 1958. Sebastian does not meet modern building code requirements; however, its replacement will meet all building code and ADA regulations as well as satisfy the demands of the current and future student body.

The new structure will be located on a prominent site along Benbow Road for easy access.  Equipped with eleven exam rooms, women’s health center, seminar rooms, pharmacy, laboratory diagnostic area, immunization area, substance abuse and counseling area, secure record retention area and triage area, the two-story structure will be constructed to meet LEED Silver national green building design and construction standards.

“The architectural vision for the project is to reflect the progressive vision of the university through use of materials and building massing and siting. Other factors considered will be the connectivity of the new student health center to nearby residential areas, incorporation and connectivity to open green spaces on adjacent sites as well as connectivity to the campus as a whole,” said Andrew M. Perkins Jr., assistant vice chancellor for facilities.

For information about this and other construction projects at N.C. A&T, contact the University Engineer Office at 336-285-4508.

North Carolina A&T State University is participating in The Home Depot’s annual Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program, which provides support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Your online votes are needed to win.

The 2013 campaign kicked off Feb. 14. The grants will total $195,000 to be awarded as one $50,000 Tier I Grant, one $25,000 Campus Pride Grant for the school that receives the most votes and social media activity, and twelve $10,000 Tier II Grants.

“N.C. A&T and other colleges and universities across the country are currently facing difficult financial constraints. The Retool Your School” competition provides an opportunity to bring additional funds to our institution,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr.

Schools were required to submit a brief description of their projects by Feb. 11, for consideration, with full proposal details due by Monday, March 11. Online voting will take place from Monday, Feb. 18, to Monday, April 15, at www.retoolyourschool.com.

Winning one of the grants will allow A&T to do the following

• Major Grant ($50,000): Renovate the restrooms at Aggie Stadium. This includes installing sinks and solid surface countertops along with maintenance closets and other needed improvements in all restrooms at the stadium.

• Campus Pride ($25,000): A&T’s landscape architectural class will enhance the design for the area where Price Hall Annex was demolished to includeadditional options to improve the area where students can spend time between classes outside in a natural outdoor setting.

• Minor Grant ($10,000): Create a student oasis or “green space” in the main North-South campus walking path where Price Hall Annex was recently demolished. The project will be designed by a university landscape architectural class and will include native plants into a natural green space including: trees, benches and fountains.

“With your votes, we can win this grant. Please vote daily for A&T to win,” said Martin.

The goal of the Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant Program is to provide sustainable and lasting renovations to give new life to the campuses of HBCUs. Each year, the outpour of support for the program from alumni, students, parents and the community grows. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than three million votes have been cast as the HBCU community bands together for their favorite and most deserving HBCU school projects.

The Home Depot will announce the grant recipients on or around May 3. For more information on The Home Depot Retool Your School Grant Program, visit www.retoolyourschool.com.