FYI: RI colleges propose joint nursing school - Boston.com

The University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College have proposed building and sharing a new $60 million nursing school in downtown Providence that would help address the state's nursing shortage while also saving money.

Both public colleges have strong nursing programs and both are proposing new facilities on their campuses to address their current cramped and outdated quarters. Building a 121,000-square foot facility to share near Rhode Island and Women & Infants hospitals would save taxpayer money and allow both programs to admit more students.

The Providence Journal reports that the schools would maintain separate nursing majors even with the shared facility.


If approved by the General Assembly, a bond question will be put to voters in November and construction could start in 2012.