This week, Little Rock’s historically Black Philander Smith University declared that it will begin providing a bachelor’s degree program in nursing.
In May, the program’s plans were approved. The Dr. Joycelyn Elders School of Allied and Public Health will provide the courses.
The first cohort will begin shortly, and the program will consist of 124 credit hours and accommodate 50 students annually.
In addition to completing demanding curriculum, students will take part in clinical rotations and an apprenticeship program for nurses. The degree is especially appropriate for certified nursing assistants who want to progress in their careers, according to a press release from Philander Smith regarding the program. The degree will incorporate service-based scholarships.
According to Shannon Clowney Johnson, vice president for academic affairs, this new degree program is a calculated reaction to the escalating health care problem. We are constructing a brave and purposeful pipeline of nurses with a BSN who will have a quantifiable influence on communities in Arkansas and beyond.
Arkansas has a nursing shortage, just as many other states. Going outside of central and northwest Arkansas into rural areas exacerbates the scarcity.
Citing the scarcity, state officials last year awarded $20 million in grants to 19 higher education institutions to help them train additional nurses. According to the Arkansas Advocate, Philander Smith was one of those universities that received $396,857.13 from the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) program.
Additionally, the institution is investing $8.3 million in grant and philanthropic support for the creation and execution of the nursing program.
In addition to $2 million from the United Methodist Church’s Board of Global Ministries, $1.75 million from Windgate Foundations, $1 million from the TAWANI Foundation, and $250,000 from the United Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, additional funding has been provided by the Blue & You Foundation, the Frueauff Foundation, and Title III funds.
According to university president Maurice Gipson, this is a pivotal time in our institution’s history. The acceptance of our BSN program demonstrates our dedication to creating graduates who are prepared, empowered, and ready to serve, as well as the pressing demand for qualified nurses. Through this program, we are investing in Arkansas’s future and well-being in addition to broadening our academic offerings.
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