FAMU Expands Partnership with Wiley to Launch Three New Graduate Degree Nursing Tracks for Spring 2023

The agreement builds on FAMU’s commitment to address widespread labor gaps in health care

TALAHASSEE, FL.— Florida A&M University (FAMU) Monday announced an expanded partnership with Wiley’s University Services division to launch three new Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program tracks for the Spring 2023 semester. The agreement, which was announced at a signing ceremony at the university’s campus, builds on a partnership with University Services that launched an MSN with two nursing tracks last fall. 

FAMU, the country’s highest-ranked public Historically Black College or University, is rapidly moving to help close labor market gaps that are expected to challenge the health care industry for years following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A report from McKinsey predicts a nationwide nursing shortage that could reach as high as 450,000 by 2025, and advocates for new pathways to nursing education and careers. FAMU’s three new MSN program tracks will include Nursing Leadership, Informatics and Nurse Educator.

“The School of Nursing continuously seeks strategies that increase student success outcomes and enhance our ability to address the nursing workforce needs. These new degree tracks in our Nursing program will help to address the growing demand for health care professionals,” said FAMU Dean of Nursing Shelley A. Johnson, Ed.D.

Wiley partners with higher education institutions to deliver online degree programs that help students learn new skills, earn their degrees, and reach their career goals. Wiley-supported programs are, on average, more affordable than comparable online programs, generate strong student outcomes as measured by graduation and retention rates, and perform well in terms of student and faculty satisfaction.

Todd Zipper, Wiley’s executive vice president and general manager of University Services and Talent Development, and FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., announce an expanded Partnership for a Master of Science in Nursing Degree Program on Monday July 25, 2022.

“This partnership will provide support for our ongoing efforts to significantly expand online degree offerings at the University. My leadership team has worked closely with Dean Johnson over the past year to launch this project and I am excited to see it come to fruition,” said FAMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maurice Edington, Ph.D.

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Florida A&M University to launch three new graduate degree in nursing tracks that directly link students’ education with careers,” said Todd Zipper, Wiley’s executive vice president and general manager of University Services and Talent Development. “Given the nursing shortage across the country, this partnership will meet the growing demands of the market and provide a pathway to critically important careers for more graduates. We look forward to continuing to drive strong outcomes for FAMU’s students.”

FAMU and University Services launched in September 2021 a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree program, as well as an MSN program with tracks in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. Wiley is also working with the FAMU College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities to expand its online course offerings.