Project Grant CC389292260A54

AWARD PURPOSE PATHWAYS TO NURSING SUCCESS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE COLLEGES' NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS (AFRICAN AMERICANS, MEN, VETERANS), INCLUDING ACCELERATED PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORTS NEEDED TO HAVE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES COMPARABLE TO WHITE, FEMALE STUDENTS. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED THIS PROGRAM WILL ADVANCE EQUITY USING TWO MAIN STRATEGIES: 1) INCREASING CONSORTIUM INSTITUTIONS' RESPONSIVENESS AND ABILITY TO PROMOTE DEI AND RECRUIT STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT EQUITABLY REPRESENTED IN NURSING; AND 2) PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUCCESS SUPPORT USING THE EVIDENCE-BASED ASAP MODEL, HIRING A NURSING RETENTION SPECIALIST, AND TRAINING FACULTY TO USE ACTIVE LEARNING TEACHING METHODS. ALL THREE COLLEGES WILL ALSO USE FUNDING TO HIRE NURSING FACULTY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY CAN ACCEPT INTO A NURSING PROGRAM (TRADITIONAL, WEEKEND OR ACCELERATED). FINALLY, THE COLLEGES WILL DEVELOP OR ENHANCE A FLEXIBLE AND ACCELERATED RN DEGREE PROGRAM SO STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE ALL OF THE TRAINING NEEDED TO PASS THE NCLEX-RN IN LESS TIME. DELIVERABLES CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME 1: INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUPPORTS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS COMMONLY FOUND AMONG RURAL STUDENTS WITH LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICANS, VETERANS AND MEN; CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME 2: ACCELERATE THE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES NURSING PROGRAMS AND INCREASE THE TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS EARNED ACROSS THE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES; CAPACITY BUILDING OUTCOME 3: INCREASE THE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES' NURSING FACULTY'S ABILITY TO USE TEACHING STRATEGIES RELATED TO ACTIVE LEARNING SO THE CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES SCENARIOS WERE STUDENTS LEARN THE CLINICAL JUDGEMENT SKILLS THAT THEY WILL NEED AS RNS. EQUITY OUTCOME 1: CONSORTIUM COLLEGES WILL ENACT NEW POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THEIR INSTITUTION AND NURSING PROGRAM BASED ON THE RESULTS OF EACH COLLEGE'S DEI EVALUATION CONDUCTED THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS; EQUITY OUTCOME 2: INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION OF UNDERSERVED STUDENTS IN THE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES' NURSING PROGRAM, E.G., MALES, VETERANS AND BIPOC STUDENTS. INTENDED BENEFICIARY STUDENTS FROM RURAL AREAS WITH LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, MEN, VETERANS AND INCUMBENT WORKERS WHO ARE EMPLOYED AS LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ALL THREE CONSORTIUM COLLEGES (BV AND SOUTHERN ARE SUBRECIPIENTS) WILL CONDUCT ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE. THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING TO HIRE A DATA ANALYST AT THE WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO DATA IN STATE DATABASES AND SERVE AS A LIAISON TO THE THIRD-PARTY EVALUATORS THAT WILL CONDUCT THE CONSORTIUM'S EVALUATION PLAN.