High-achieving students at Virginia Tech now have a clearer and faster path to becoming Highlander nurses through a newly signed agreement.
All graduating seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who have completed the necessary prerequisites are guaranteed spring semester admission to Radford University for the prelicensure Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) program. The new partnership creates a seamless bridge between the two institutions, making premier healthcare education more accessible and affordable.
“Virginia Tech and Radford University have long partnered on many other initiatives to support student success in our region, so this agreement is just one more example of how our institutions can support these ambitious learners,” said Meagan Arthur, assistant dean of undergraduate nursing.
The agreement also offers a unique opportunity for students in Virginia Tech’s Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise (HNFE) program. Seniors with a GPA of 3.25 who apply in the fall and are accepted by Radford University’s College of Nursing may complete their final year at Radford by taking level 1 prelicensure BSN coursework in the spring semester. Credits transfer back to Virginia Tech for HNFE degree completion. The accelerated pathway helps students earn their BSN in just 12 months after graduating from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in HNFE.
“Students in HNFE most commonly pursue careers in the health professions,” said Renee Eaton, undergraduate program director at Virginia Tech. “Historically, nursing has been one of the top five careers that our students choose, and they often go towards accelerated BSN programs. Because Virginia Tech does not have nursing, our students either transfer at some point during their undergraduate degree, typically in their second year, or they want a degree from Virginia Tech and choose the accelerated pathway afterwards.”
The two universities share a common goal: to help students maximize their time and resources while preparing for their next steps in healthcare.
Formally signing the memorandum of understanding follows years of collaboration and discussion with Virginia Tech. “We started working on this in 2022, and there was a lot of discussion about entry requirements, what courses will transfer back and exploring the plans of study for both degrees to make it an efficient process,” said Eaton. Collaboration was key to bringing the innovative idea to fruition.
The process began when faculty proposed the idea to Radford's dean of the College of Nursing, Wendy Downey, who then partnered with Eaton and her team to work through the logistics. “Our university's leadership team is thrilled to support our undergraduate nursing program's ongoing growth and welcome Virginia Tech 's HNFE students through this unique pathway,” said Arthur.
Along with an exceptional nursing education, students will receive the added benefits of participating in all Radford nursing activities, events and organizations. Clinic rotations will be placed within a 50-mile radius of either Radford University or the Roanoke location. Additionally, eligible students may participate in the SIGMA nursing honors society.
The goal is to admit the first students this spring.
To learn more, contact Meagan Arthur at 540-831-7274 or marthur4@radford.edu.