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Collaboration provides dual enrollment opportunities for nursing students in Schuylkill County

�鶹��Ƶ is extending its successful partnership with the for an additional three years. This collaboration, which began in 2021, provides a unique dual enrollment program that enables nursing students to benefit from Alvernia’s comprehensive academic resources while completing their clinical training at one of the region’s leading healthcare facilities.

“The extension of this partnership underscores our commitment to providing experiential-based education to nursing students throughout eastern Pennsylvania,” said �鶹��Ƶ President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “Our collaboration with the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that combines rigorous academic training with practical, experiential learning. This partnership not only benefits our students but also strengthens the healthcare workforce in Schuylkill County and beyond.”

That program has grown from 41 students in 2021 to 163 incoming students in 2024. Through this partnership, nursing students take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities at Alvernia’s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus, including its cutting-edge biology laboratory, technology-rich lecture rooms, and computer lab, as well as newly designed online learning environments and coursework, which have increased accessibility and flexibility for enrolled students. These facilities, combined with the hands-on clinical experience at the JFMSON prepare students to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare industry with the highest level of competence and care.

“The partnership with Alvernia enables the nursing students of the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing to have the best of two educational experiences,” said Lehigh Valley Health Network Vice President for Education, Cynthia A. Cappel DNP, MBA, NPD-BC, NE-BC. “They can take classes toward associate and baccalaureate degrees while obtaining their diploma in nursing. This prepares our graduates to fill critical nursing workforce needs within the region and beyond.”

Students enrolled in the dual enrollment program take general education and prerequisite courses at �鶹��Ƶ’s Pottsville CollegeTowne location. Upon completion of these courses, students transition to the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing to complete their clinical training, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in a real-world healthcare setting.

“Our continued partnership with The Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing allows us to provide our nursing students with the best possible educational experience,” said Alvernia’s College of Health Sciences Dean Patricia Reger, Ph.D. “By combining Alvernia’s academic excellence with practical clinical training at the new world-class facilities at the McCloskey School of Nursing, we are preparing the next generation of nurses to deliver exceptional care in our community.”

The partnership has already seen significant success, with its first 20 graduates earning degrees this past August and are now serving in critical roles within the regional healthcare system. As the program continues, �鶹��Ƶ and the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing remain dedicated to fostering educational excellence and meeting the growing healthcare needs of the community.

For more information about the dual enrollment nursing program, please visit �鶹��Ƶ’s partnership page.

�鶹��Ƶ Our Partner

The at LVHN is committed to providing quality nursing education that prepares graduates to seek licensure as a registered nurse and to provide safe, quality, evidence-based, patient-centered nursing care in a variety of health care settings.