Nursing Students to Complete BSN in 100 Percent Online Program

Minnesota State University, Mankato and Riverland Community College announced Monday they have collaborated on a partnership known as the Maverick (Nursing) Advance (Transfer) Plan, or “MAP,” between the Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Riverland and the 100 percent online Registered Nurse (RN) Baccalaureate Completion degree from Minnesota State Mankato.

Students in the Associate of Science in Nursing program at Riverland who participate in the Maverick Advance Plan will be provided with guidance and support from both institutions to ensure a seamless transfer path directly after graduating with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Riverland to the 100 percent online RN Baccalaureate Completion Program at Minnesota State Mankato.

“We are pleased to be working with Riverland Community College on this Maverick Advance Plan nursing partnership,” said Edward Inch, president of Minnesota State Mankato. “This partnership will help meet the critical need for baccalaureate degree-educated nurses in the region.”

“We are always proud of the partnerships we create with Minnesota State University, Mankato,” said Adenuga Atewologun, president of Riverland Community College. “This partnership will allow our Nursing graduates to advance their learning to an online Baccalaureate Completion degree that will enhance the level of Nursing offered in our region’s healthcare facilities.”

As part of the plan, students will work directly with advising teams at both institutions to ensure that prerequisite coursework is completed at Riverland and that all admissions criteria for Minnesota State Mankato are met. Advisors at Minnesota State Mankato will also make information about the Riverland Associate of Science in Nursing degree program available to Minnesota State Mankato pre-nursing students, when appropriate.

More information on the Maverick Advance Plan is available by contacting Amy Wagner, Riverland academic advisor, amy.wagner@riverland.edu, 507-433-0575 or Anthony Riesberg, Riverland academic advisor, Anthony.Riesberg@riverland.edu, 507-433-0520.

Riverland graduates who meet the following requirements will receive guaranteed admission into Minnesota State Mankato’s 100 percent online RN Baccalaureate Completion Program:

1. Students must successfully complete the 79-credit Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Riverland Community College prior to admission to the RN-Baccalaureate Completion Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
2. Students must have an Unrestricted RN License by the start of the RN-Baccalaureate Completion Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Students may be in progress or have plans to complete the NCLEX-RN examination when making application. Full admission requires RN Licensure.
3. Students must earn a minimum of a C grade in all Riverland Community College nursing coursework.
4. Students must have a total cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Considering the grading scale requirements for nursing at Riverland Community College, GPA waivers will be considered.
5. Interested students will be strongly encouraged to apply to Minnesota State University, Mankato by the second semester of their Riverland Community College program to allow for a more comprehensive joint advising experience.
6. Students accepted into the MAP program will be eligible for the transfer student scholarship from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,546 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.