Cox College adding satellite campuses in Branson, Monett

Cox College is working to address nursing shortages in the Branson and Monett markets.

The CoxHealth-affiliated nursing school announced this morning plans to open satellite campuses in Branson and Monett. Both would solely offer an associate of science in nursing degree starting in January 2021, according to a news release.

“There is a real need in those communities,” said Amy Townsend, chief nursing administrator at Cox College, in the release. “We want to help build the workforce in Branson and Monett with local nurses who are invested.”

Cox Medical Center Branson would house one location, while the Monett campus would be located at the Scott Regional Technology Center.

Each campus would accept 10 students apiece to start, according to the release.

Cox College also is nearing the end of $6.6 million in renovations to its facility at Cox North Hospital in Springfield, officials said in the release.

With recent approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing to accept 150 more nursing students incrementally over the next few years, Cox College will accept up to 400 nursing students by 2023, according to the release.