Carlow University receives grant from HRSA for loan forgiveness for graduate students who secure positions as nurse educators.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | June 08, 2020 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
Grant Underscores Importance of Need for Nurse Educators to Teach Future Nurses
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Because nursing school faculty shortages risk limiting the number of students who can be admitted to nursing schools, Carlow University has received a $236,000 grant from the Health Resources & Service Administration (HRSA) to provide loan forgiveness for students seeking to become nurse educators. Carlow University will add $14,000 to the fund to bring the total available for loan forgiveness to $250,000.
“Carlow University is the proud recipient of a grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Nursing Faculty Loan Forgiveness Program for the 2020-2021 academic year,” said Renee Ingel, PhD, associate professor and director of the DNP, MSN in Education and Leadership, and MSN/MBA programs at Carlow. “This federal loan provides financial assistance to working nurses seeking to advance their career, including current Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students who are interested in pursuing positions in nursing education.”
Under the terms of this grant, which Carlow has received twice in the past three years, graduate students in the DNP or MSN in education and leadership programs, can have up to 85 percent of their student loans forgiven if they obtain a full-time-equivalent faculty position within one year of graduation.
Ingel says graduates who combine part-time positions can also qualify for loan forgiveness, as long as the credit hours add up to the equivalent of a full-time position.
This grant is coming at a critical time for nursing education in our nation, as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has said faculty shortages are limiting student capacity at colleges and universities while the demand for professional registered nurses continues to grow. In 2018-2019 alone, AACN estimates that more than 75,000 potential students were turned away nationwide due to an insufficient number of nursing faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. Furthermore, an AACN survey of 872 nursing schools revealed a total of 1,715 faculty vacancies in baccalaureate of graduate programs and a need to create an additional 138 faculty positions to keep up with student demand.
“Carlow appreciates HRSA’s support in the form of this grant, and we look forward to continuing to produce excellent nurse educators, and, by extension, excellent nurses,” said Ingel.
Carlow University has two programs that can lead to a career in nursing education: a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in education and leadership, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The links to more information about each program can be found here:
https://www.carlow.edu/Master_of_Science_in_Nursing_Concentration_in_Education_and_Leadership.aspx
https://www.carlow.edu/Nursing_Doctoral_Offering.aspx.
### About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduated, curricula, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in four colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, Learning and Innovation, and Professional Studies. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset, and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s 14 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.