Northwestern Michigan College and Davenport University announced an exclusive partnership last May – aimed at increasing Michigan’s nursing workforce. This month, Davenport celebrates Aliyah Nowlin – its first program graduate.

The partnership is a unique bachelor’s degree nursing (BSN) program that provided an expedited pathway for Nowlin to earn her associate’s degree in nursing from NMC in 2023 and now her bachelor’s degree from Davenport this week.

The concurrent program, in which students are enrolled two years at NMC and a third year at Davenport, gives nursing students a faster, less expensive path to a BSN. Munson Medical Center in northern Michigan requires its nurses to earn a BSN within five years of hire.

NMC was among the first of Michigan’s 28 community colleges to roll out a BSN program partnership under state legislation passed in 2022. Davenport University was its top choice because of its in-person and virtual curriculum and student support services in Traverse City.

“I wouldn’t be starting my master’s this fall without that partnership program,” said Nowlin, who also took advantage of tuition reimbursement offered to employees by Munson. “I’m 21 years old and have a lifetime of nursing ahead of me.”

Read more about Aliyah’s journey here.