A federal award of nearly $220,000 will enhance the graduate nursing program at South Dakota State University.

The Department of Health and Human Services allocated $219,795 to the College of Nursing for an Advanced Education Nursing Grant, which funds faculty salaries, curriculum consultants and student research assistantships in the doctoral program, according to Sandra Bunkers, head of graduate nursing at SDSU.

The continuation grant for fiscal year 2010 is part of an overall project covering fiscal years 2006 to 2013, Health and Human Services reported July 9.

The college has 15 students in its doctor of philosophy program and will enroll an additional nine new students this fall. The program was launched in fall 2005 and had its first graduate in December 2008. The program educates nurse scientists in academic, research, practice and policy issues in urban, rural and reservation areas.

In addition, this fall the college will begin a doctor of nursing practice program with two sections, accepting up to 20 students per section .

The Advanced Education Nursing Grant is the third grant received from the department for the college's graduate program in as many months.

In June, the College received $276,226 for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. In fiscal year 2009, the college received about $35,000, so this award represents a massive increase, Bunkers noted. The program allows Ph.D. and master's degree students to receive loans for their tuition, fees and other education costs.

Students must take at least five credits per year and agree to teach for at least four years after graduating. In exchange, up to 85 percent of the loan will be forgiven, Bunkers explained. Previous allocations were only enough to offset a small portion of the students' costs, she said.

In May, the college received $61,662 for Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships. That program provides financial assistance to master's and Ph.D. students in the final 12 months of their program or to those going to school full time. While not a new source of funds, the amount represents a big increase, Bunkers said. Graduate programs are offered in a combination of online and classroom settings in Brookings and Sioux Falls.

For the complete article see the 07-18-2009 issue.

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