CLC joins Operation LEAD consortium 

Central Lakes College has joined Bemidji State University’s Operation LEAD consortium, further expanding opportunities for Minnesota’s nurses to quickly and affordably complete bachelor’s degrees. 

Operation LEAD creates pathways for nursing students to “Learn to lead; Expand their knowledge; Advance their careers; and Discover new jobs.”  

Here’s how it works: Students start at CLC, completing their two-year Nursing A.S. Degree. Then, they can transfer seamlessly to BSU with a guaranteed spot in the university’s RN-to-bachelor’s degree in nursing completion program, which they can complete in as little as one year. 

“Central Lakes College is proud to join Bemidji State University in Operation LEAD because this partnership is truly student-centered,” Dr. Cheryl Norman, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at CLC. “It creates a clear, affordable, and seamless pathway for our nursing students to move from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree without losing time or momentum. Together, we are removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that nurses in our region can advance their education, grow their leadership skills, and step confidently into high-demand, high-impact careers that strengthen healthcare across Minnesota.” 

About Operation LEAD 

Operation LEAD was designed to help working professionals pursue these career-expansion opportunities, built around a flexible, accommodating schedule. Students have five opportunities each year to start courses which only last eight weeks each and are offered 100% online. Nurses also have the option to enroll part-time if that best fits their schedules. 

Nursing students can begin working on bachelor’s degrees before completing their NCLEX — a national licensing examination for entry-level nurses. However, nurses who have passed the exam will receive 15 upper-division course credits through BSU’s RN Advantage program. 

Other benefits include the opportunity to apply for one of 20 scholarships — either a $1,000 transfer scholarship, a $2,500 Minnesota Workforce Development Scholarship, or both — that are reserved specifically for Operation LEAD nursing students, opportunities to meet with BSU academic advisors and register for BSU courses on-site at their two-year college. Every Operation LEAD student also receives a personalized graduation plan, and BSU nursing graduates also complete Public Health Nurse Registration and End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium certifications, in addition to a bachelor’s degree.