STLCC Expands Nursing to Wildwood

Construction is gearing up to bring the nursing program to St. Louis Community College-Wildwood in fall 2020. 

The project, which is funded by a state grant, is part of STLCC’s overall plan to expand the nursing program by 75% across the College within the next five years. 

At Wildwood, nearly 3,000 square feet of space on the third floor will be transformed into an innovative learning center for nursing. When the project is complete this summer, the campus will have a dedicated nursing skills lab with six hospital beds and manikins, a dedicated laboratory with state-of-the-art patient simulators, meeting areas, faculty offices and storage. 

“With our aging population and workforce, demand for medical professionals, especially nurses, is on the rise,” said William L. Hubble, Ph.D., district dean for health sciences. “We understand the importance of nursing education, and we’re committed to doing our part to train the next generation of professionals to meet this need.” 

STLCC’s nursing program is fully accredited. Each year, more than 90% of STLCC’s nursing students pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). This exam is the same national licensing exam that is required by all registered professional nurses (RNs). 

“STLCC’s nursing program is exceptional. Upon completion of the program, our students are not only prepared to sit for their national boards, but the vast majority get jobs soon after graduation,” said Karen Mayes, RN, director of nursing education. 

Students can complete STLCC’s nursing program in about two years for around $19,000. This is approximately 20% of the cost of other similar programs in the St. Louis area. The College also has a number of partnerships with surrounding universities that enable students to seamlessly complete a bachelor's degree in nursing after STLCC. 

In August, Wildwood’s program will begin with a cohort of 24 students. Over time, the College hopes to expand the cohort and faculty at Wildwood to further support workforce needs. 

“This is a truly exciting time for the College, the Wildwood campus and our community,” said S. Carol Lupardus, Ph.D., campus president and chief academic officer. “There has been considerable interest in expanding this program to Wildwood. We look forward to August when we will welcome our new nursing students and faculty to campus.”