Tompkins Cortland Community College Nursing Program Review

Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) is near the counties of Cortland and Tompkins in New York. It is a public college that is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The campus is located in a rural area in the town of Dryden. There are around 3,270 students enrolled at the college. The student body is diverse, with students from over 50 different countries attending Tompkins-Cortland. These students attend colleges in their own countries and then go to Tompkins-Cortland for two semesters. Students stay in seven student housing buildings. Over 50 different programs are offered at this community college.

Tompkins-Cortland offers some programs that are not often seen in community colleges. One of these is a study abroad program that is led by faculty members. Some of the countries where these opportunities are available are India, Ireland, Argentina, Ecuador, Cyprus, England, France, Japan, Peru, Switzerland, and many others. Students who have completed 12 credits may also take part in the Disney College Program. Students complete a full-time internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando. They are paid for their work and receive academic credit as well. Although it is not always possible for nursing students to take part in these activities, it is possible in certain circumstances if the student completes these experiences before beginning the nursing courses.

Nursing Program

AAS Degree

An Associate of Applied Science is offered at Tompkins-Cortland Community College. This two-year associate degree in nursing prepares students to enter the workforce as entry-level nurses. At the completion of the program, graduates take the national exam, the NCLEX-RN, to attain their license to practice as professional Registered Nurses. General admission to college is open, but the nursing program is selective. Students are selected on the highest grade point averages and other criteria. Those who have graduated from high school within five years must have completed New York State math courses A and B, biology, and chemistry with Regent’s scores of 80 percent or better. Preference is given to students residing in Tompkins, Cortland, or Tioga Counties.

Applicants must also take the Test of Essential Academic Skills. Applicants who have graduated from high school more than five years ago must complete 12 credits at the Tompkins-Cortland or at another college before being considered for the nursing program. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) may seek advanced entry into the nursing program. They must complete the New York Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse course with a passing grade. After that, they are granted experiential credit for some of the nursing courses in the RN program. Grade point averages of college work completed for the LPN are considered when admitting students to the program.

The college’s nursing program is highly-praised and is demanding to prepare future nurses to work in many different healthcare facilities. Students take liberal arts and science courses to meet the general education requirements at the college. Then, once accepted into the nursing program, they take nursing courses and complete clinical experience. This experience takes place in same day surgery, acute care units, community agencies, doctor’s and midwives’ offices, mental health clinics, and hospice organizations.

Contact:
Tompkins Cortland Community College
170 North Street,
Dryden, New York 13053
(607) 844-8211