By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life News Staff--

Saratoga Hospital has selected Excelsior College as an education partner in order to streamline access to undergraduate and graduate degree programs for hospital staff nurses and other employees.

Excelsior College, a designated Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, offers degree programs in nursing, health sciences, liberal arts, business and technology. Employees who enroll in undergraduate programs except the Associate Degree in Nursing Program are eligible for reduced tuition and fees. Employees who enroll in the graduate programs are eligible for a 15% reduction in tuition. In addition to benefiting Saratoga Hospital employees, the education partnership’s reduced tuition and fees extend to employee spouses and domestic partners. The hospital employs over 2,000 employees at 19 regional locations.

Saratoga Hospital will host an initial information session regarding this education option in the upcoming month. Staff, spouses and domestic partners are encouraged to attend.

“We are excited about the partnership with Excelsior College and look forward to the educational opportunities for our employees.” said Ron Bentley, Senior Human Resources Generalist, Saratoga Hospital.

“We look forward to extending our education programs to Saratoga Hospital nurses and other employees,” said Mary Lee Pollard, PhD, dean of the Excelsior College School of Nursing. “Employers in the health care field have increasing expectations for employees’ educational advancement, so we are proud to support nurses and other staff members working to meet those expectations.”

Albany-based Excelsior College is an accredited, nonprofit distance education institution serving working adults. Excelsior is home to the largest nursing school in the nation.
Admission to Excelsior’s associate degree program in nursing is open to individuals with existing health care experience, such as licensed practical nurses, paramedics and certain classifications of military corpsmen seeking to become a registered nurse. The bachelor’s degree program serves registered nurses seeking the next level of academic and professional achievement.

The School of Nursing also offers a master’s degree program with specializations in Clinical Systems Management, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Education.
Excelsior’s nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). In 2011, Excelsior was, for the third consecutive time, recognized as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing, following a rigorous peer review process. Excelsior has also been repeatedly named a “Best School” for men in nursing by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, most recently in 2011.

In addition to the undergraduate and graduate degree programs in nursing, students may choose to enroll in more than 30 associate, bachelor's, master's and certificate programs in Business, Technology, Liberal Arts including Criminal Justice, and Health Sciences.

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Saratoga Hospital
Saratoga Hospital is the region’s leading healthcare provider. The only acute-care facility in Saratoga County, the hospital has a medical staff of over 450 physicians and other credentialed providers, offering care in a broad range of medical specialties. In keeping with its emphasis on quality, Saratoga Hospital was the first in the Capital Region to earn Magnet Designation for nursing excellence. The hospital achieved redesignation in 2010. The hospital is located at 211 Church Street in Saratoga Springs, NY. wwwsaratogahospital.org

Excelsior
Excelsior College http://www.excelsior.edu is a regionally accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.