Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation Awards Nursing Grant to Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Award to help nursing students pay education costs

Media, PA - May 2, 2008 - The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) today awarded the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, School of Nursing, a $39,000 Nursing Education Grant to help nursing students pay their education costs. Last year, PHEF distributed more than $16.5 million statewide to assist nursing students and nurse educators.

“The contributions that the Foundation makes to Pennsylvania’s nursing community are vitally important because the health of our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers is at stake,” said PHEF Board member, William Adolph. “Nursing students should be congratulated for choosing a noble profession that will provide personal growth and opportunity throughout their careers.”

Pennsylvania nursing schools interested in receiving PHEF Nursing Education Grants must submit an award proposal to PHEF. Once approved, the nursing schools administer and distribute the awards to their qualifying nursing students. PHEF Nursing Education Grant amounts are determined by the school’s previous year’s nursing student graduation numbers.

“PHEF’s grant enables financially disadvantaged students to afford and receive a practical nursing education and meet the need in Pennsylvania for licensed practical nurses. Financial support from PHEF bridges the gap between access to college and ultimately employment as a licensed practical nurse. The College appreciates PHEF’s interest in our students and their success,” said Mr. John Strayer, President, Pennsylvania Institute of Technology.

The PHEF Nursing Education Grant Program was created to help reverse Pennsylvania’s nursing shortage by generating non-governmental financial support which otherwise is not available to schools of nursing. This funding, in turn, helps - more - Pennsylvania schools increase the recruitment and retention rates of their nursing programs, providing qualified nurses for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

PHEF was created five years ago and began offering loan forgiveness and nursing education grants shortly thereafter to help students afford their nursing education. Today, statistics are pointing to a reversal of the downward spiral in producing qualified nursing professionals to meet the state’s health care needs.

• 59% increase in nursing program enrollment

• 86% increase in nursing graduates and nearly a 3% improvement in nursing licensure pass rate

• Nearly 4% improvement in RN and LPN vacancy rates at health care facilities

Additionally, in response to the need for more nurse educators, the PHEF created the Nursing Education Capacity Initiatives in cooperation with the Leadership Council of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers and like-minded financial donors to enable nursing schools to increase their enrollment by funding additional faculty, providing assistance for current faculty to complete advanced degrees or allowing faculty members to hire graduate assistants to teach nursing students. The funds will be provided annually to eligible Pennsylvania non-profit, tax-exempt nursing schools.

Also attending today’s award presentation were State Senator Edwin B. Erickson and State Representative Thomas H. Killion.

For more information on these program or the many other nursing assistance programs available from PHEF, visit FuturesInNursing.org.