Hudson County Community College Announces Expanded Allied Health Partnership with CarePoint Health and Saint Peter’s University
December 5, 2014
New HCCC Board agreements include the physical transfer of cooperative nursing program from CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital to HCCC and joint/simultaneous admission to AA/BSN degree program in partnership with Saint Peter’s University.
December 5, 2014, Jersey City, NJ – In a move that will greatly expand opportunities for students to pursue degrees that lead to careers in the fastest-growing sector of the job market – health care – the Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Board of Trustees has approved agreements with CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital and Saint Peter’s University.
The agreements provide for the eventual transfer and physical relocation of the cooperative allied health registered nursing and the radiography programs from CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital to Hudson County Community College, and the development of an affiliated 2-year/4-year associate/baccalaureate nursing degree program with Saint Peter’s University.
In announcing the agreements at the HCCC Foundation Gala last evening, HCCC Board of Trustees Chair William J. Netchert, Esq. and HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert noted the College’s long-standing relationships with CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital and Saint Peter’s University.
“Hudson County Community College has worked with CarePoint-Christ Hospital for fourteen years and with Saint Peter’s University for forty years,” Mr. Netchert stated. “These alliances have resulted in greater educational, career and health care benefits for the people of our community.”
Dr. Gabert explained that the cooperative nursing program was initiated with Christ Hospital, Bayonne Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital fourteen years ago, and the College has continued to co-sponsor the program with CarePoint. Under the terms of the new agreement, the nursing and the radiography programs will physically relocate all equipment and services to the HCCC Joseph Cundari Center on the HCCC Journal Square Campus in Jersey City, which will be renovated to accommodate the programs. Practicum activities will continue at the CarePoint hospitals.
HCCC expects that the physical transfer to the Cundari Center will take place in time for classes in September 2015; the programs will remain fully accredited.
“Over the years, more than 1,000 Hudson County Community College students have completed the associate degree program with CarePoint and have gone on to successful careers,” Dr. Gabert said. “Some of these graduates have even continued their healthcare educations and earned baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.” There are presently over 1,000 HCCC students enrolled in pre-nursing, and over 200 matriculated in the nursing program.
“We are excited to continue this historic partnership with Hudson County Community College and Saint Peter’s University,” said CarePoint CEO Dennis Kelly. “High quality medical education benefits all Hudson County residents and this agreement continues to make that possible.”
The agreement with Saint Peter’s University responds to today’s demand for nurses with baccalaureate degrees, and provides an efficient bridge for nursing students and nurses with associate degrees to develop the stronger clinical reasoning and analytic skills that are acquired in earning a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree.
“This agreement enhances our partnership with Saint Peter’s University,” Dr. Gabert stated. “It will allow students to have joint/simultaneous admission to Hudson County Community College and Saint Peter’s University so they can seamlessly transition from the associate degree nursing program to the baccalaureate degree program.” Students in this program will have access to the libraries and bookstores at both institutions.
“Saint Peter’s University continues to seek partnerships with institutions in our community in order to provide unique educational opportunities for students,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., President of Saint Peter’s University. “Our relationship with Hudson County Community College has always been, and will continue to, have a positive effect on our students and members of the community.”
Hudson County Community College also has a unique program with Saint Peter’s University that allows HCCC graduates to transfer to Saint Peter’s University for the same tuition as they would pay at a New Jersey State four-year institution – a large savings for HCCC graduates.
“Our partnerships with CarePoint Health and Saint Peter’s University are important not only to the students of Hudson County Community College, but to the entire community. We are grateful for these alliances, and intend to continue strengthening them in the future,” Dr. Gabert said.