A Blessing from Above
KEENE, TEX. – Professors Kathrine Davis and Ann Smith of Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) have successfully secured a $2.7 million grant from the Promoting Post baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program (PPOHA) Title V Part B grant to develop a Master of Science in Nursing Education program. The program will offer state-of-the-art wrap-around student success services and scholarships for the first cohorts of nursing educators. A $250,000 Nursing Educator Endowment will also be created to support nursing educators for generations to come.
The program is specifically designed to prepare educators for post-secondary teaching positions in community colleges and universities offering nursing programs across the nation. There is a significant need for nurse educators in the southern region of the country, where the program will have a particular emphasis. The Master of Science in Nursing Education program will be delivered completely online, in an asynchronous format, allowing students to attend on their own schedules and limit the costs and barriers of a traditional in-person program.
The urgency for the nursing education community to address the impending exodus of senior faculty and to develop younger faculty for succession is increasing. One-third of the current nursing faculty workforce in baccalaureate and graduate programs is expected to retire by 2025, and U.S. nursing schools turned away 91,938 qualified applications from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2021 due to an insufficient number of faculty.
Haylie Bowman, a senior nursing major at SWAU, expressed excitement about the new program, saying that it is a dream come true to continue her education on a graduate level among faculty who have now become mentors. Bowman hopes to one day become an educator to inspire the next generation of nurses.
The Master of Science in Nursing Education program at SWAU will provide students with an unparalleled educational experience, emphasizing academic excellence. The university's dedicated faculty members are experts in their fields and passionate about teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in their chosen field of study and to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.
SWAU’s Master of Science in Nursing Education program will bridge the discrepancies in the nursing community and address the growing demand for nursing faculty strategically. The grant awarded to SWAU for the development of the program is an exciting opportunity for the university to make a significant impact on the nursing education community. The hard work and dedication of Davis and Smith in securing this grant award are greatly appreciated.
In conclusion, the Master of Science in Nursing Education program at SWAU is poised to meet the growing demand for nursing faculty and address the impending exodus of senior faculty. The grant awarded to SWAU for the development of the program will create opportunities for future generations of nursing educators and inspire students like Haylie Bowman to pursue their dreams of becoming nursing educators.
By Ann Smith and Kathy Davis
Nursing Professors
