The University of Wisconsin-Superior is proud to announce the launch of its fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree, starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. Through a statewide collaboration with the Universities of Wisconsin BSN@Home program, this degree allows students to experience the personal, supportive environment of UW-Superior while accessing top faculty and courses from all participating UW institutions.

Through the BSN@Home program, students choose a home campus from among the seven participating UW campuses. The school selected by the student is considered their “home campus,” where they receive support and advising, establish clinical placements, register for classes, apply for financial aid and earn their degree.

Meet the Program Director

Lorraine Smith, DNP, MSN, RN, CCHP, is renowned for her approachable demeanor, extensive expertise, and outstanding accomplishments. As the inaugural RN to BSN Program Director at UW-Superior, Smith brings a wealth of experience and a reputation for running an organized, efficient program.

“I’m excited about the energy behind this new program,” said Smith, affectionately known as “Dr. Lo” by her students. “The enthusiasm is really driving things forward, and it’s coming from both the campus and the community, which shows how welcoming they are of a nursing program here at UW-Superior. It’s heartwarming to step into a role where such strong support exists.”

Before joining UW-Superior, Smith served as an associate professor of nursing at UW-Eau Claire. With more than 25 years of nursing experience, her impressive career includes numerous awards, publications, presentations, and academic achievements, making her a standout leader in the field.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to start this program,” said Smith. “It’s very exciting.”

A Network of Support

While the flexibility of the online RN to BSN Program allows students to continue working while pursuing their degree, they are certainly not alone on their academic journey. In addition to benefiting from UW-Superior’s welcoming, supportive online campus community, students will have access to expert instructors and the best courses from all seven participating Universities of Wisconsin campuses.

“The unique thing about the program is that it’s nurses advising nurses,” said Smith. “We can mentor these students, understand their career aspirations, and help them find their path.”

Within the program, students meet with an advisor to enhance their career trajectory or adjust their plans if personal responsibilities change.

“We create personalized program plans because the beauty of this program is its flexibility,” said Smith. “Students can progress as quickly or slowly as they like. If something happens and life gets in the way, they can slow down. That’s one of the program’s strengths.”

Students will be taught by a diverse team of instructors, offering a wide array of expertise.

“One unique aspect of the RN to BSN Program is that it includes students from across the state and the country, and they benefit from the Universities of Wisconsin system’s teaching. It’s a diverse group of instructors and nurses working in various fields, offering invaluable knowledge and experience,” said Smith.

UW-Superior brings extensive experience in both collaborative University of Wisconsin programs and online learning. Its online offerings are designed to help students complete degrees while balancing home, family, and work commitments. With over 30 years of experience, UW-Superior has supported hundreds of online students in achieving their personal and professional goals.

Choosing UW-Superior

UW-Superior is uniquely positioned to offer students the opportunity to complete clinical requirements locally in the Superior and Duluth areas—or even at a location convenient to the student’s home. Another benefit of UW-Superior’s location is the ability for students to customize their studies, specializing in areas such as rural health, public health, and Indigenous community health.

“I’m really excited about the course UW-Superior has developed on Indigenous practices in health and healing,” said Smith. “This course will be invaluable not only for UW-Superior nursing graduates but also for the communities they serve. It will provide knowledge that enhances personal care and empowers students to share insights with colleagues, ultimately improving health outcomes for Indigenous populations and beyond.”

Seamless Transfer

Students can easily transfer credits from their associate degree in nursing to UW-Superior’s RN to BSN Program. The university has established agreements with several community and technical colleges to ensure a smooth transfer process. UW-Superior is collaborating with Northwood Technical College, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Lake Superior College and Gogebic Community College to ensure smooth transfer of credits into the RN to BSN program. Additional transfer agreements are also being explored.

Another benefit is that students can complete any necessary general course requirements at UW-Superior, which offers the most affordable tuition in the Twin Ports region and one of the lowest rates among the Universities of Wisconsin.

For More Information

UW-Superior is not yet accepting applications for the RN to BSN Program but will begin accepting them soon. For more information, call 715-394-8230, email admissions@uwsuper.edu or visit uwsuper.edu/nursing.