Innovative ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals partnerships allow nursing, healthcare students to earn degree at no cost
Three local healthcare partners join Work+ program
Innovative ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals partnerships allow nursing, healthcare students to earn degree at no cost
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals healthcare students can now earn their bachelor’s degrees at no cost to them, thanks to three Southwest Ohio healthcare partners.
Kettering Health Hamilton, Premier Health Atrium Medical Center, and Butler County General Health District have joined ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals’ Work+ initiative. With Work+, students work part-time — earning a paycheck — while pursuing their degree. Their employers pay their tuition.
Bringing these healthcare partners on board allows students to gain valuable work experience in their area of study while attending school. It positions them to graduate debt-free, making college more accessible.
Employers with Work+ can retain highly motivated employees in positions that experience high turnover, saving on attrition and hiring costs.
In fact, 89 percent of Work+ students continue working for their Work+ employer from semester-to-semester.
“At ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals, we are proud to remove barriers to higher education, and this is just one of the ways we can do that. Higher education is experiencing an affordability crisis right now, and Work+ is addressing that barrier,” said Ande Durojaiye, vice president and dean of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals.
New and continuing ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals students are able to work with their choice of more than 18 Work+ partner employers, with an anticipated 50 job placement opportunities by fall 2023. Beyond healthcare, Work+ has opportunities in childcare, laboratory science, transportation, office administration, and manufacturing.
“This excellent program creates a talent pipeline for the communities we serve, provides a pathway for students to earn their bachelor's degrees while earning a paycheck, and nurtures valuable relationships with local employers,” said Ekaterina Gay, regional director of Work+. “When we sign key community stakeholders as Work+ partners, we are making strides to improve access to education for all while strengthening our local workforce.”
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 20 majors including Nursing, Health Information Technology, and Health Communication. Students can earn a bachelor's degree from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University at any of the Regionals' three locations in Hamilton, Middletown, or Voice of America. Tuition at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals is one of the most affordable in Ohio, at $28,000 for the entire four years.
As an open-access institution, admission to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals only requires an application and proof of high school completion. To learn more or to explore application requirements for the Nursing program, visit ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu/Regionals/NSG.