Fairmont State University Receives Funding through West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to Bolster Nursing Program Success
Fairmont State University has been awarded $1 million in grant funding from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) to expand student enrollment, enhance test preparation, recruit new nursing faculty, and support faculty development.
The grant, led by Deborah Struth, PhD, Interim Dean of Nursing, will focus on strengthening both student and faculty success in the university’s nursing programs.
Funding will support increased enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Licensed Practical Nurse-Associate of Science in Nursing (LPN-ASN) programs. To better prepare students for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, the university will implement Assessment Technology Institute (ATI) test prep and leverage the expertise of STAT Nursing Consultants.
Additionally, the grant will assist in recruiting new faculty to fill vacancies while providing professional development opportunities for current faculty. Nursing educators will attend conferences on topics such as nursing education, research, and clinical simulation learning to enhance teaching effectiveness and student support.
“The College of Nursing currently boasts an 80.9% on-time graduation rate. Faculty development and networking with other nurse educators play a key role in achieving strong student outcomes,” said Struth. “New faculty learn to identify at-risk students and implement strategies that help them become more effective adult learners.”
WVHEPC oversees public policy for West Virginia’s four-year colleges and universities, providing essential support to institutions and students. In December 2021, Governor Jim Justice allocated $48 million to WVHEPC to launch a statewide nursing workforce expansion program. Fairmont State has received funding each year of the program, aligning with WVHEPC’s mission to enhance student and faculty success.
Fairmont State is grateful for this continued support, which strengthens its mission to prepare highly skilled nurses who will meet West Virginia’s critical workforce needs. By expanding access to quality nursing education and increasing student success, the university is helping to address healthcare shortages and boost the state’s economy.
“This funding will cover the cost of standardized testing and educational modules across all nursing courses, reducing the financial burden on our students,” Struth added. “We will also offer workshops to help new nursing students improve test-taking skills. These interventions, implemented in the first two years of the WVHEPC workforce expansion grant, have contributed to a 10% increase in NCLEX-RN pass rates.”
These initiatives will begin in Spring 2025, benefiting both nursing students and faculty at Fairmont State. To learn more about the College of Nursing, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/nursing.
