Trinity Valley Community College, UT Tyler announce partnership to address nursing shortage

ATHENS, Texas (KLTV) - Sixty-thousand: that’s the number of nurses the state of Texas will be short by 2030, according to a projection by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies. East Texas students pursuing nursing degrees to fill that gap are getting some help thanks to a new partnership.

The University of Texas at Tyler and Trinity Valley Community College entered an agreement to improve pathways for students to earn a four-year degree in nursing.

“The University of Texas at Tyler is pleased to join efforts with Trinity Valley Community College to produce quality nurses who will, in turn, strengthen healthcare in the region as well as the state,” said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost and vice president for academic affairs. “These students will hold highly-respected degrees from both institutions.”

Under the memorandum of understanding, undergraduate students admitted to the TVCC Associate Degree in Nursing program and planning to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing will be offered admission to UT Tyler.

“We have always enjoyed a great relationship with UT Tyler, and this partnership will provide such a fantastic opportunity to complete both degrees at the same time,” said Dr. Helen Reid, TVCC Health Science Center provost. “UT Tyler has a long history of providing high-quality nursing education, and we are proud to partner with them to provide this opportunity for our students here at TVCC.”

UT Tyler has launched a similar partnership with Tyler Junior College and Kilgore College. The university also expanded its program by offering a nursing curriculum during the summer and expanded its enrollment by 180 students every 12 months.

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