Gov. Justice’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program nets $924,619.12
March 18, 2022
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 18, 2022 — West Liberty University has been awarded nearly a million dollars through West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program, which is designed to address the state’s nursing shortage through a multifaceted approach to attract, train, and retain nurses in the Mountain State. Representing a fundamental part of this approach, an award program was established to fund nursing program expansion projects at colleges, universities, schools of nursing, and career technical education centers across West Virginia.
Through this significant award, WLU’s College of Sciences plans to expand the nursing program and increase the number of students enrolled. The investment is expected to support at least 20 new nursing students at West Liberty University.
“We are so pleased to receive this major award for our nursing program. These funds will support new students in our traditional nursing baccalaureate program and our BA-BS to BSN or second-degree program,” said Dr. W. Franklin Evans, WLU president. “The support from the governor will also provide innovative technology to enhance student learning and to ensure our students are well prepared for nursing careers.”
The nursing program expansion awards are administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System. Twenty-six funded projects across the state were announced by Gov. Justice on March 17. Approved projects were required to be focused on increasing enrollment in pre-licensure nursing programs through innovative approaches focused on timely degree completion and licensure for graduates.
“We are tremendously grateful to Gov. Justice for providing this historic funding to support the expansion of nursing education programs across West Virginia,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “Through these new projects, our postsecondary education community will be better positioned to help shore up West Virginia’s nursing workforce – which, in turn, will help support our nurses working tirelessly on the front lines right now.”
Governor Justice announced the West Virginia Nursing Workforce Expansion Program in December 2021 by dedicating $48 million to support new and expanded initiatives that will train new nurses, fully fund the West Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program, value nurses already practicing in the state, and recruit nurses into West Virginia.
Housed in the Campbell Hall of Health Sciences, WLU’s nursing program is ranked one of the best in the state. For more information, please visit wlibertydev.wpenginepowered.com/nursing.