Warren County Career Center, Miami Regionals partner to expand nursing opportunities across Southwest Ohio
New Early Access BSN 1+3 Model helps high school students begin nursing coursework early through College Credit Plus, addressing regional healthcare needs
Warren County Career Center, Miami Regionals partner to expand nursing opportunities across Southwest Ohio
Miami University Regionals and the Warren County Career Center (WCCC) have partnered to create a new opportunity for WCCC students to begin their nursing education early while meeting the healthcare and workforce needs of communities across Southwest Ohio.
The Early Access BSN 1+3 Model enables WCCC students in the Early College Nursing Program to complete their first year of Miami’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) while still in high school, leveraging Ohio’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program.
During their junior and senior years of high school, students will complete many of their science and general education courses through Miami University’s Middletown campus, learning alongside college students and taught by Miami faculty. They will also take additional College Credit Plus courses through Hocking College, which will transfer to Miami University.
After graduating from the Warren County Career Center, qualified students will receive direct admission to Miami’s BSN program in Hamilton, placing them on an accelerated path to complete their BSN degree within three years.
Ande Durojaiye, Miami’s vice president for strategy and partnerships, noted the benefits for the community and for the students.
“For students, the program will reduce the time to completing their degree and reduce the cost of their degree by 25%,” he said. “It’s another step in our work to remove barriers to students meeting their educational and career goals.”
Durojaiye emphasized the advantages for the region’s healthcare employers, noting that “this program gets top-caliber healthcare professionals into the local workforce sooner."
A regional collaboration with statewide benefits
Moira Casey, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science, said the initiative is a shared investment in the region’s future workforce.
“By collaborating with partners like Warren County Career Center, we are creating affordable and accessible pathways,” Casey said. “This partnership supports students from Warren County while meeting Ohio’s growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals.”
Building the next generation of nurses
Students will earn college credits through College Credit Plus while completing Miami’s first-year Nursing curriculum at WCCC, taught by Miami Nursing faculty. This structure allows students to transition seamlessly into Miami’s BSN program in Hamilton after high school.
“This partnership builds directly on the strengths of both institutions,” said Stephanie Nicely, chair of Miami’s Department of Nursing. “Students gain valuable early experience in college-level coursework, and the healthcare community gains nurses who are prepared, confident, and committed to serving their region.”
Supporting affordability and access
Participants in the Early Access BSN 1+3 Model can also apply to Miami’s Work+ Program, which offers free tuition to students employed by participating local employers while pursuing their degrees. The program includes scheduled breaks in summer and winter, providing opportunities for students to participate in internships, Microcredentials, or undergraduate research.
Joel King, superintendent of the Warren County Career Center, said the collaboration reinforces the shared goal of helping students thrive while addressing a critical community need.
"We are excited to partner with Miami and provide such a great opportunity to our students. Our current Pre-Nursing program has a waitlist, and nursing is such an in-demand field that this partnership makes a lot of sense for both of us,” King said. “I appreciate the efforts of Ande and Stephenie and our team at WCCC who have worked hard to put the pieces in place to begin students in the pathway next school year."
Launching in 2026
The Warren County Career Center/Miami University Early Access BSN 1+3 Model will officially launch for WCCC students who will be juniors in fall 2026.
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Interested students can apply at mywccc.org/apply.
“This is about preparing the next generation of nurses and supporting the communities they call home,” Casey said. “It’s a model that truly works for students, families, and healthcare partners across southwest Ohio.”
