June 26, 2003
The University of the Virgin Islands Associate of Science degree nursing program
has received a three-year grant from the Bureau of Health Professions totaling
$443,539, to increase the enrollment, retention and graduation of disadvantaged
nursing students.
The Strategies for Achieving Results grant, (STARs), will be used to fund
continuous tutoring, counseling and a stipend for eight incoming nursing
students to the St. Croix campus program, and will add more students to the
program each year.
"We are very excited and anxious to get started in the program," said Joan
Marsh, the grant’s principal investigator, who applied for the grant with
assistance from fellow professor Janzie Allmacher. Marsh is a nursing professor
and chairwoman of the St. Croix campus Nursing Division.
The STARs program begins with an intensive two-week workshop in July for
incoming freshman nursing students who may apply for a STARs grant. Eight grant
recipients will be selected, however all nursing students may participate in
workshops funded by the grant.
The grant will also fund faculty development and a Future Nurses club for middle
school students who are interested in pursuing nursing as a career.
For more information about the STARs program call Joan Marsh at 692-4014.