Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) signed an articulation agreement with Centenary College at a ceremony on July 20, 2017 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The new partnership will allow Centenary students interested in pursuing a nursing career to be eligible to enter an accelerated post-baccalaureate FastBacc program at LHSON.

Under the new agreement, students who complete a Bachelor of Science degree at Centenary, including all prerequisite courses required by Baylor, will receive preferential admissions consideration over other non-Baylor students applying to the program. LHSON academic advisors will work with Centenary faculty and staff to make sure interested Centenary students are fulfilling all prerequisites and admission requirements, and Baylor faculty will also be available to interview FastBacc candidates. The Baylor LHSON FastBacc program will be immediately available to students entering Centenary in the fall of 2017 and to current students who have fulfilled the requirements.

“We look forward to welcoming students from Centenary College to our FastBacc program,” said Dean Shelley F. Conroy, EdD, MS, RN, CNE, Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing. “Our nursing school’s strong tradition of integrating faith and academic excellence in nursing education enables us to provide transformational experiences for students to realize their calling to Learn.Lead.Serve. Since we are both faith based institutions this is a good match for the students to continue in that tradition.”

The FastBacc program is a rigorous, intensive 12-month program that combines traditional classroom learning, online courses, clinical and lab experiences, and hybrid interactive learning courses. Students who complete the FastBacc program are qualified to apply to the Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX licensure exam.

“Liberal arts-trained nurses have a wealth of education about human culture and history that allows them to connect to patients as whole humans—not just collections of symptoms,” said Dr. Jenifer K. Ward, Provost and Dean of the College at Centenary. “They have learned critical thinking, communication skills, and discernment, all of which allow them to engage with patients, families, physicians, and other caregivers with precision and empathy.”