Better together: the "M" word

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Institutions of higher education face increasing pressure to increase enrollment, meet regulatory demands, and contain costs.
• Collaborative academic programs are supported by legislators, administrators, and students.
• Inter-institutional partnerships can address these challenges by pooling resources and expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the process of establishing a collaborative nursing school spanning two institutions.
• To describe the five key stages of alignment: dreaming, developing, championing, launching, and stabilizing.
• To provide a framework for other institutions considering inter-institutional academic ventures.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach was used to document the establishment of the collaborative nursing school.
• The process involved alignment among faculty, students, and administration across both institutions.
• Key milestones and challenges were identified throughout the five defined stages.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of a joint nursing school required significant faculty, student, and administrative buy-in.
• The five-stage model (dreaming, developing, championing, launching, stabilizing) provided a structured approach to managing the collaboration.
• The collaborative model addressed institutional needs for enrollment growth and cost containment.

Conclusions:

• Inter-institutional collaboration, exemplified by the joint nursing school, is a viable strategy for higher education institutions.
• Effective alignment and a phased approach are critical for the success of such partnerships.
• This model offers a scalable solution for enhancing educational offerings and operational efficiency.