Announcing Academic Partnership between UMR & Riverland Community College

Authored By: wells438 11/04/2022

University of Minnesota Rochester and Riverland Community College work collaboratively to offer a joint Lab Sciences Associates of Arts to Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree. 

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new agreement between the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) and Riverland Community College (RCC) allows students the opportunity to transfer to UMR’s health sciences program after obtaining a Laboratory Science Associates of Arts (AA) degree from Riverland Community College. 

The academic partnership allows students to complete their AA at Riverland Community College with internship experience at Hormel Institute or other employers in the Austin, Minnesota area and then complete their Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Degree with a Medical Lab Sciences certificate at the University of Minnesota Rochester.

Announcing Academic Partnership between UMR & Riverland Community College“At UMR, students are at the center, research informs practice, and partners make it possible,” said Lori Carrell, Ph.D., chancellor, University of Minnesota Rochester. “This new partnership with Riverland is designed to support students as they move in the direction of their dreams, and to meet critical health care workforce demands. We’re excited to launch in fall 2024!”

“Riverland continues to build strong programming with top notch regional partners like The Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota Rochester to enhance our STEM related degrees,” said President Adenuga Atewologun, Riverland. “Students who graduate with an AA degree in Laboratory Science are eligible for exciting high-wage jobs in local laboratories including Nu-Tek Biosciences, the Hormel Institute and Hormel Foods Research and Development. Students may also choose to continue to a university to pursue a four-year bachelor's degree.”

Clinical laboratory scientists are a growing part of the medical workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an additional 21,800 jobs by 2031. “This collaborative approach to addressing Minnesota’s critical health care workforce demands is a wonderful example of local institutions working together for collective impact,” says Lori Carrell, Ph.D., chancellor, University of Minnesota Rochester.