VATNP History
In the fall of 1972, the Nursing Program began as a two college
program with 34 students, three faculty members, the Director and a 
secretary.
All nursing courses were given at the Virginia Highlands Community College
campus.
In 1975, an agreement was made with Mountain Empire Community College that allowed 12 students from that region to enter the program. In the summer of 1976, the three college program was approved and the name became the Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program. Also in 1976, the program received accreditation from the National League for Nursing.
With this new three college program, first year nursing courses and support courses were offered at all three campuses, with second year nursing courses still taught at Virginia Highlands Community College.
In 1984, an additional section was added. This part of the program is located in Grundy.
In 2005, the program received significant grant monies from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and the US Department of Health. These grants enabled the program to offer the curriculum at each campus on a part time evening/weekend schedule for working adults.
Enrollment on each campus has steadily increased and the program now accepts 150 to 200 new students each year. The program is able to offer the majority of students their clinical experience close to their home campus and second-year classes are now taught on each of the three main campus locations via Virginia Distance Education Network (VDEN). Since its beginning in 1972, the program has graduated over 2500 students. The Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program looks forward to the continued growth and development of this program.