Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation Announces Six New Nursing Education Initiatives

Harrisburg, PA - March 17, 2006 - The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation announced today the creation of six new nursing education initiatives, the result of a cooperative effort with the Leadership Council of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers.

Due to a lack of qualified faculty to teach nursing students, Pennsylvania Schools of Nursing have been forced to turn applicants away. This has contributed to the critical shortage of nurses in the Commonwealth. These six new initiatives were created to encourage current nurses to return to school, earn their graduate degrees and teach the next generation of nurses.

• The Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program forgives up to $50,000 of qualified loan debt, provided that the applicant agrees to work three to five years as a new nurse educator at an approved Pennsylvania postsecondary nursing school.
• The Graduate Nurse Education Grant Program awards scholarship funds to graduate nursing schools within Pennsylvania, to be used to increase enrollment and improve retention for students pursuing a graduate degree in nursing in order to teach.
• The Nurse Faculty Lines Program provides funds annually to non-profit, tax-exempt Pennsylvania schools of nursing to underwrite nursing faculty positions. The initial round of awards, subject to available funding, will provide $50,000 per line, renewable for a minimum of three years, to increase teaching faculty at an institution.
• Supplemental Funding for Practical Nursing Programs allows Pennsylvania schools with Practical Nursing Programs to submit a proposal for additional scholarship funding of their Practical Nursing students.
• The Interim Student Loan Guarantee Program provides alternative loans to fund the unmet needs at Pennsylvania nursing schools prior to receiving FFELP eligibility. This will initially target new nursing schools, nursing schools attempting to reopen and nursing schools providing accelerated programs.
• The Dr. McKenzie Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students is named in honor of the late Dr. Edna McKenzie, a distinguished educator, and a long-time member of the PHEAA Board and the Foundation Board. This program is currently under development with more details forthcoming.

These six new initiatives will accompany the Foundation’s current initiatives in working to alleviate Pennsylvania’s critical nursing shortage. They are funded through the generosity of community-minded donors, including PHEAA, who share the Foundation’s concern for today’s nurses. In most cases, donors may also direct their contribution to the Pennsylvania nonprofit nursing school of their choosing. For additional information about the Foundation’s initiatives or to inquire about donation opportunities, contact the Foundation office at (717) 720-3961 or visit www.HigherEdFoundation.org.

Further information on the new nursing education programs, as well as applications and eligibility requirements, can be found at www.FuturesInNursing.org.