Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has reached a major milestone, nearing 150 graduates since its launch and continuing to expand educational and career opportunities for registered nurses across the region.
In just five years, the fully online program has grown in both reach and impact, supporting working professionals as they advance their education and careers.
“The growth of this program is a testament to the faculty and its founding leadership,” said BSN Program Chair Jaime Deree Yang, DNP. “STC’s student-oriented culture drives our faculty to put students first and that commitment is how meaningful, lasting success is built. It also reflects how invested STC is in strengthening the community and expanding opportunities for working nurses.”
Launched in 2020, the Registered Nursing (RN)-to-BSN program began with an initial cohort of 10 students and has expanded rapidly, providing graduates with pathways to leadership roles and advanced degrees in nursing.
“Health care is constantly changing, so being a nurse does not stop at the bedside,” Yang said. “Many nurses pursue a bachelor’s degree as a milestone toward leadership roles, graduate degrees or specialized fields such as informatics, education or advanced practice. Nursing offers many pathways and the BSN helps open those doors as the profession continues to move forward.”
This is the case for recent graduate Abraham Saenz, who completed the one-year program last December and is currently working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Driscoll Children’s Hospital.
“I work full time as a nurse on night shift, and the BSN program being fully online made it possible for me to keep working while going to school,” Saenz said. “The flexibility of the classes made it manageable, even while I was also working as a travel nurse.”
Saenz began his career in health care as a unit clerk before enrolling in STC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, becoming a registered nurse in 2022 and returning to the college early last year to continue his education.
Saenz aspires to pursue leadership roles and advanced practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. He said working in the NICU has been especially meaningful after witnessing the level of care nurses provide to vulnerable patients.
“I admired how careful and precise the nurses were with the babies,” Saenz said. “Being able to work at the bedside now and support families during some of their most difficult moments is incredibly rewarding.”
Currently, the program enrolls up to 75 students per semester and can be completed in as little as one year, with an extended 18-month track also available.
“Our students value the self-paced structure because it allows them to continue working as registered nurses while earning their degree,” said Claudia Camacho, BSN academic coach. “Our focus is on supporting students through every stage of the program. That includes strong instructor engagement, academic coaching and access to campus resources such as the Center for Learning Excellence.”
STC’s Center for Learning Excellence provides online tutoring, essay assistance, among other crucial services important to student success.
Sharing that sentiment, Yang said what sets STC’s bachelor’s programs apart is the level of support offered to students, even in a fully online format.
“I think we are different in that while the program is 100% online, our faculty maintain a strong on-campus presence and are readily available to students,” Yang said. “Students can come to campus if they need support and have access to resources such as tutors and the library. While coursework is completed online, students remain connected, supported and in control of their education.”
Students may also benefit from scholarship opportunities, including the Mary Killoran Scholarship, which awards $3,500 to seven eligible students each semester and the recently established Dr. Annette Wingard Memorial Scholarship, which will select its second recipient this spring.
“Dr. Wingard believed deeply in investing in faculty,” added Yang. “That support made it possible for faculty to invest fully in students and that culture continues to define this program. Our success is rooted in a student-centered approach that emphasizes access and support.”
Just like Saenz, most of the students currently enrolled are graduates of STC’s ADN program, though enrollment is open to all registered nurses.
For Saenz, the opportunity to continue his education close to home made a lasting impact, and he encourages other working nurses to consider taking the next step.
“If you want more for yourself, do it,” Saenz said. “This degree gives you options and the confidence to keep moving forward. I highly recommend it.”
For more information on STC’s Bachelor in Nursing program, visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/bsn/ or call 956-872-3132.
Photo Caption: STC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program has reached a major milestone, nearing 150 graduates since its launch and continuing to expand educational and career opportunities for registered nurses across the region.
