UCHealth employees can now pursue an online BSN through the Ascend Career Program with CSU Pueblo
PUEBLO, Colo. – Registered nurses across UCHealth now have a direct path to bachelor’s degrees without the usual financial hurdles, thanks to a new partnership between Colorado State University Pueblo Extended Studies and the statewide health care provider.
The memorandum of understanding, signed Friday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Parkview Pueblo West Hospital, integrates CSU Pueblo’s online registered nurse to Bachelor of Science Nursing Program into UCHealth’s Ascend Career Program. Through the partnership, UCHealth employees are eligible for tuition assistance through a direct payment model. UCHealth remits tuition payments directly to the university, eliminating the need for employees to pay upfront costs or await reimbursement.
“Our partnership with CSU Pueblo Extended Studies expands opportunities for UCHealth nurses across Colorado to earn their BSN and advance their careers,” said Noreen Bernard, chief nursing officer, UCHealth Parkview Medical Center. “At UCHealth, we believe investing in our people directly enhances the quality of care we provide to the communities we serve. Beyond the RN-to-BSN pathway, the university offers a wide range of programs, certifications, and career options in health care, and we appreciate the possibilities it brings for our staff and ultimately, our patients.”
The program targets working nurses who earned their RN licenses through associate degree programs and want to complete a BSN through a fully online degree program. CSU Pueblo offers six start dates per year, one every eight weeks, with the next cohort launching January 20.
“We are beyond thrilled to be in partnership with UCHealth Ascend Career Program,” said Kristyn White Davis, Vice President of Enrollment and Extended Studies. “This is another opportunity for CSU Pueblo to lead as a higher education provider for our state in the healthcare field. CSU Pueblo’s programs offer flexibility to working students. We know UCHealth staff are eager to grow professionally, and this MOU makes it more accessible.”
“This is a meaningful extension of our mission at CSU Pueblo’s School of Nursing to produce highly skilled nurses via multiple degree entry pathways,” said Kristine Morris, Dean and Director of the School of Nursing. “Nursing professionals already bring compassion and experience to their roles. We’re helping them take the next step. It’s a smart, sustainable approach to workforce development, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Kathryn Starkey, Dean of the Division of Extended Studies at CSU Pueblo, emphasized the barriers the partnership removes. “Nurses are already doing critical work in their communities. Now they won’t have to choose between their careers and their education. The flexible structure of this program, combined with UCHealth’s tuition support, allows nurses to keep working while building new skills and preparing for leadership roles.”
