With health care facilities across southwest Missouri in need of skilled nursing professionals, Ozarks Tech is breaking new ground to meet the demand.
The college has announced the recently approved expansion of its Associate of Science in Nursing – Direct Entry (ASN-D) program, which will increase available seats in the program from 24 to 150, significantly strengthening its capacity for nursing education. The Missouri Board of Nursing officially approved the expansion in early March and a site visit to confirm expansion will be performed this summer.
Groundwork for this expansion was made possible through the Alliance for Healthcare Education, a collaborative effort between Ozarks Tech, CoxHealth, Missouri State University, and Springfield Public Schools. This partnership underscores the community’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and workforce development.
“We have been working intently toward the growth of this high-demand program, which will be greatly beneficial for future nursing students in our region,” said Ozarks Tech Chancellor Hal Higdon. “We’re thankful to our partners at the Missouri Board of Nursing for supporting this idea and to our partners in the Alliance for Healthcare Education making it possible. This expansion will pay dividends to the people of southwest Missouri as they seek medical care in the future.”
The expansion of the ASN-D program will introduce five cohorts of 30 students each, allowing 150 students to enroll annually. This model, unique to the region, enables new students to begin every eight weeks, offering greater flexibility and reducing wait times for program entry. Two cohorts will be structured as an evening/weekend hybrid option, two cohorts will be traditional day seated courses, and one cohort will be a daytime hybrid (in-person and online) option.
The expansion represents a major investment in the future of health care education in southwest Missouri. As one of the most affordable nursing programs in the state, students can also take advantage of financial aid options including the A+ Scholarship Program and the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant, making a high-quality nursing degree even more accessible.
“This expansion is a game-changer for our community,” said Dr. Aaron Light, Dean of Health Sciences at OTC. “Bottom line is we are offering multitudes of ways to get into nursing, and this expansion makes Ozarks Tech a great choice when you are looking for options to train in this field.”
Applications are now open for new students, with the first cohort of students set to begin classes in October.
For more information about the Ozarks Tech Nursing Program or to apply, visit Registered Nursing – OTC Programs or contact Dr. Michelle Crum at crumm@otc.edu or Dr. Aaron Light at lighta@otc.edu.