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Bellarmine University’s commitment to college access and student success was on full display this summer through two distinctive programs — the inaugural “Knights to Nurses” Career Ready Nursing Program for high school seniors and the expanded Bridge to BU program for conditionally admitted first-year students. 

The Knights to Nurses program, led by the Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences in partnership with Norton Healthcare, welcomed 15 high-achieving high school seniors from Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham counties for an intensive five-week introduction to nursing and college life. With an impressive average summer GPA of 3.85, the cohort included 80% first-generation college students and 40% students for whom English is a second language.  

"We are proud to expand our partnership with Bellarmine University," said Brittany Burke, DNP, R.N., NEA-BC, system director, Norton Healthcare Institute for Education & Development. "The Norton Healthcare Career-Ready Program allows high school students interested in nursing to begin their collegiate academic journey during their senior year, gaining valuable clinical experiences and receiving mentorship throughout the program from nursing and other clinical leaders at Norton Healthcare. We are investing in the future of health care by helping students explore a limitless and meaningful career in nursing." 

Participants earned college credit in courses including Introduction to Nursing, Academic Success Skills, and Global History, while also engaging in clinical skill-building and community service at the nearby Nazareth Home. These students will complete their senior year of high school with 32 hours of college credit and a head start on their future nursing career.  

"The success of our inaugural dual enrollment nursing cohort is a testament to what’s possible when we combine innovation, academic excellence, and community partnership,” said Dr. Heather Owens, dean of the Lansing School. “By giving high school seniors the opportunity to complete their first year of college here at Bellarmine, we’re not only setting them on a clear path to becoming skilled and compassionate nurses, but we’re also helping them address student debt through partnerships with local healthcare organizations.” 

Bellarmine’s Bridge to BU program, designed to help conditionally admitted students transition successfully to college, also reached its largest group yet, with 42 participants representing 21 intended majors. Of those, 88% successfully completed the program and will enroll at Bellarmine this fall — an 8% improvement from the program’s first year. These students, 86% of whom are first-generation college students, showed impressive increases in math and writing college readiness scores measured before and after the summer program.  

“We are proud of the continued gains we’ve made providing opportunity and access to a high-quality education through Bridge to BU,” said Dr. Jon Blandford, assistant provost. “The 37 successful completers from this summer represent our largest group in the three years of the program and are going to contribute a lot to our academic community in the fall.” 

These summer initiatives are part of a broader university strategy to strengthen college access and workforce alignment. This work is underscored by Bellarmine’s recent recognition as a Carnegie “Opportunity College and University — Higher Access, Higher Earnings” institution, providing affordable opportunities to attend college while delivering unrivaled career outcomes that create upward economic mobility. 

“Bellarmine is growing a talent pipeline that serves both students and the community,” said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “Our students arrive better prepared, more confident, and with a deeper connection to the university — all of which positions them for long-term success.”