Cox College, Cottey College join forces

An affiliation between the two institutions will allow Cox to give preference to five Cottey graduates and five alternates for Cox’s Baccalaureate Nursing Program. All other applicants will be added to the general applicant pool.

The idea for the partnership came about when a representative from Cottey approached Cox College President and CEO DeLois Weekes. Several meetings and campus tours followed, and a collaborative agreement resulted.

“Students have come through Cottey, and there was no place to refer them and no way for them to continue from Cottey to another program,” Weekes said. “We’re creating additional opportunities for students interested in health care.”

Weekes said the program comes at an appropriate time as nursing rises as a top occupation.

“Everybody is beginning to see this is a profession where you can be employed any place in the world,” she said. “You’re almost guaranteed a job when you graduate.”

Applicants must meet all Cox admission standards and curriculum requirements. Meekes said about three students apply for every available slot at Cox, so admission is competitive.

The program will go into effect for the 2005-2006 school year. A Cox College representative will visit the Cottey campus Oct. 14-26 and April 21-23 to alert Cottey students to the program.

Interested students can contact Cottey adviser Rosemary Fowler at (417) 667-8181 for more information. To apply for the program, students can contact Cox recruiter Nicole Dame at (417) 269-3069.

Cox College is a specialized private college, a division of CoxHealth, for students wishing to pursue a career in health care. Cottey College is a two-year independent school for women.