A teach-out plan brought on by a March announcement of the pending closure of Finlandia University — a private institution in Hancock, Mich. — will soon send its nursing students eight minutes down the road to Michigan Technological University in Houghton.
Beginning in the 2023 fall semester, Michigan Technological University, which has not had a nursing program until now, will enroll students in the new Bachelor of Science in nursing program, the Mining Journal reported May 1.
Michigan Tech University documents note that the curriculum will remain largely unchanged, carrying over Finlandia's 40-year nursing program legacy while also incorporating key elements from its new program home in Houghton.
"Michigan Tech is deeply appreciative of the value that Finlandia's nursing program has contributed to our local community and welcomes this opportunity to partner with Finlandia in an effort to retain this important program for our local community," the documents read. "No other local university can take over the BSN program, as our local Community Colleges are not able to offer baccalaureate programs, but new state funding is available for community colleges to collaborate with universities on BSN programs."
Enrollment numbers for the program's inaugural semester at Michigan Tech have not yet been released, but the program is likely to be popular among students, Michigan Tech Provost Andrew Storer, PhD, told the Mining Journal.
The nursing program will become part of the university's department of biological sciences.
"Pairing a science-focused degree with industry needs, that's what Michigan Tech does best, and we're pleased to support our local health care community by providing a graduating class of skilled nurses," Rick Koubek, PhD, president of Michigan Tech, said during a meeting about the new program, according to the Mining Journal.