New $2 million grant supports nursing pipeline from KCC to WMU
BATTLE CREEK, Mich.—A new funding boost will enhance a partnership between Western Michigan University's Bronson School of Nursing and Kellogg Community College (KCC). The $2 million grant KCC received from the state of Michigan is designed to support associate-degree-level nursing graduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
The ADN-to-BSN Completion Grant, awarded via the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP), provides scholarship funds to allow eligible Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree graduates from KCC to complete select courses required for transfer into Western Michigan University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program tuition-free.
Dr. Tonya Forbes, KCC vice president for instruction, says the grant “provides a clear pathway for KCC students to transfer to the BSN program at WMU, with support from both institutions.”
Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig, WMU provost and vice president for academic affairs, calls the grant transformative.
“By strengthening our partnership with Kellogg, we are making a significant impact on our students’ ability to achieve their educational goals and fulfill their potential in the health care field,” he says. “This exemplifies our dedication to supporting our students and addressing the growing needs of the health care industry in Michigan.”
Admission into Western’s BSN Program requires the completion of specific general education courses. Some of these courses—but not all—are required to earn the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree at KCC. The new ADN-to-BSN scholarship will cover 100% of the cost of tuition and required fees for up to five of these courses at KCC not already part of the KCC Nursing Program, saving BSN transfer students up to $2,600 on their path to a bachelor’s degree.
The only requirement for the scholarship is that the student must be a graduate of one of KCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Nursing programs.
Dr. Jennifer Rodriguez, KCC interim director of nursing, says the grant will alleviate some of the financial burden for students pursuing a BSN.
“One of the beautiful things about nursing is the ability to sit for boards and start working as an RN with an associate degree. This education provides a solid foundation for the novice nurse generalist to build upon with further education and professional growth,” Rodriguez says. “The BSN degree offers advanced courses in nursing including community health, leadership and management, while also preparing them for potential career advancement.”
“The RN to BSN program was the first nursing program at WMU 30 years ago,” adds Dr. Lisa Singleterry, director of the WMU Bronson School of Nursing.. “We have a long history of supporting nurses in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo community, helping them earn their BSN, impacting health outcomes in our communities.”
RNs who successfully complete their remaining general courses at KCC can then apply to the BSN program at Western, which is offered entirely online via the Bronson School of Nursing.
According to data from the latest National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN), administered by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis in collaboration with the U.S Census Bureau, 45.4% of RNs enter the workforce with a bachelor’s degree, the most common degree for initial U.S. licensing. While nurses in Michigan can begin practice with an ADN, hospitals generally require employees to earn a BSN within a certain number of years to retain employment.
According to the state, “The ADN-to-BSN Completion Grant program represents an opportunity to positively support Michigan’s health care field, which was significantly impacted during the COVID-19 epidemic. The program strives to increase opportunities for ADN-holding nurses in Michigan to better access BSN-granting programs and obtain a BSN by building partnerships between Michigan’s community colleges and BSN-granting four-year institutions, and developing student supports to aid in their success.”
In addition to the scholarship funds, ADN-to-BSN Completion Grant funding will also support new positions in the KCC Nursing Department—including technical/simulation staff, student support and Nursing tutor positions, and a partnership liaison to coordinate with WMU, as a well as additional technology and equipment upgrades for the KCC Nursing Program.
“While we have a robust simulation department in nursing at KCC, the additional faculty and staff coupled with the simulation equipment that was purchased with grant funds will help increase critical thinking while providing a safe learning environment bridging the gap between theory and practice,” Rodriguez says.
Students have already started taking advantage of the program beginning this summer. Interested applicants are encouraged to sign up soon, as all grant funds must be utilized by Sept. 30, 2026.
More information, including a full list of eligible courses and links to required forms for prospective ADN-to-BSN program students, is available at kellogg.edu/bsn.
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