John A. Logan College has entered into an enhanced partnership with McKendree University in which students enrolled in Logan’s nursing program who complete the two-year program in good standing will be selected for admission into McKendree’s bachelor’s program as juniors.

McKendree, which is based in Lebanon in southwestern Illinois, also formed partnerships with Shawnee Community College and Southeastern Illinois. Representatives from all schools gathered Tuesday morning at the Man-Tra-Con office in Marion to sign the necessary paperwork, thus making the agreement official.

JALC nursing students will have the opportunity for dual enrollment with McKendree provided that the student maintains a 3.25 grade-point-average. Moreover, Logan students who enroll in McKendree’s nursing program will be granted a guaranteed tuition rate for five years. The tuition guarantee will be based on continuous enrollment of the student in McKendree’s nursing program.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our graduates,” said Marilyn Falaster, director of nursing at JALC. “They can now go right into the McKendree program as juniors and complete their bachelor’s degree in two years instead of having to start at McKendree. This has been a long time coming.”

Falaster said Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe, Division Chair and Associate Professor of Nursing at McKendree, deserves much of the credit.

“She and her team made it happen,” Falaster said. “We’ve had a nursing program for over 30 years here at Logan, but this is the first time that we have had an articulation agreement with a four-year school in which graduates from Logan can move right into a four-year school’s nursing program as juniors.”

Dr. Julia Schroeder, vice president for instruction at Logan, said McKendree also offers a master’s program in nursing for those students who qualify. She added that JALC also has a working agreement with McKendree in regard to education and business degrees.

“And now nursing. I just think that’s great,” she said.

JALC President Dr. Robert Mees said partnerships such as the one forged with McKendree is a win/win situation for both schools.

“It allows us to better serve our students. They are the real winners in this,” he said. “And the folks at McKendree have been wonderful to work with.”

Rennegarbe said there is now a matrix of coursework in place, so students will know exactly what courses taken at Logan will transfer to McKendree.

“They can transfer up to 70 hours with the remainder of courses taken at McKendree,” she said. “And the tuition rate is guaranteed for up to five years as long as the student is attending classes continuously.”

Rennegarbe said those students who qualify for and choose dual enrollment may take up to three courses through McKendree (Theoretical Models of Nursing Practice, Transcultural Aspects of Healthcare and Pathophysiology) before they even earn their associate’s degree.

“What this (articulation agreement) does is enhance what we have already been doing with Logan and the other community colleges,” she said.