The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) announced in early February that the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing received a 2014 Nursing School Expansion Grant. With a value of $255,848, the Expansion Grant will provide financial support to help fund the School of Nursing’s Accelerated Online RN to BS program.
The IBHE’s Expansion Grant provides financial support to high-quality nursing programs to help increase the number of degrees earned from Illinois institutions of higher learning.
“Our Accelerated RN to BS program was designed based on the directives issued by the Institute of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses by 2020,” said Dr. Laura Bernaix, associate dean for academic programs in the SIUE School of Nursing.
“This program is for Registered Nurses who are returning to school for their baccalaureate degree,” said Dr. Roberta Harrison, assistant dean for undergraduate programs. “It is an innovative, timely and evidenced-based program tailored to facilitate student success. By addressing the common barriers experienced by RN’s returning to the academic setting, it will facilitate improved student retention and graduation.”
Nursing programs eligible for the Nursing School Expansion Grant include associate degrees in nursing (ADN), Registered Nursing to baccalaureate degree completion programs (RN-BSN), and baccalaureate degrees in nursing (BSN). These programs must meet accreditation requirements and other eligibility criteria.
Expansion grants are determined in a competitive process and are awarded on the basis of NCLEX-RN pass rates and other performance criteria. The grant funds may be used to hire faculty, develop new programs and increase classroom space to expand capacity.
Photo: Dr. Laura Bernaix, associate dean for academic programs in the SIUE School of Nursing.