Collaboration is Key to Meeting Vital Healthcare Needs in Central Illinois and Beyond

Program history

Globally, the need for nurses continues to increase, and communities in central Illinois are no exception. Therefore, a partnership was developed in 2015 between the University of Illinois Springfield, the University of Chicago College of Nursing and Memorial Health -- one of the region's largest healthcare providers -- to increase the pool of highly-qualified, baccalaureate-prepared nurses to address a critical shortage in this region and beyond.

To ensure a seamless experience for students who begin as a UIS Pre-Nursing student and complete their BSN as a UIC Nursing Spring student, a guaranteed admission pathway was established in fall 2020. Guaranteed admission benefits high-achieving students by locking in their educational pathway for all four years of their BSN.

Students benefit from access to the nationally ranked UIC College of Nursing education while studying and living in Springfield. A growing health industry is the number one employer in Springfield and nationally recognized regional medical centers serve thousands in central Illinois.

State-of-the-art facilities

Simulation is vital for nursing education, letting us create scenarios that challenge our students to practice their skills in thinking and acting in situations where the stakes are always considerable. This kind of experiential learning allows our students to fail in a safe setting and to learn from that experience. The results? Better prepared nurses and better patient outcomes.

Our students benefit from on-campus simulation labs and access to cutting-edge facilities located at area hospitals, including the clinical simulation center for nursing at Memorial Hospital in Springfield.

Take a 360-degree tour of our simulation lab

Student support

Generous scholarship opportunities are available, along with a student success program, all made possible by Memorial Health. The student success program offers onsite and online tutoring by peers and a transition program for incoming BSN students to help them prepare for the unique rigor and pace of nursing school, introduces them to the sophisticated facilities in which they’ll be learning, and familiarizes them with a variety of supports available to help them succeed.

Accreditation

The University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing maintains many accreditations.