WVXU: UC grants aim to diversify the nursing workforce in the U.S.
College of Nursing research receives more than $1M in funding
With funding from two grants adding up to more than $1M, Ann Gakumo, PhD, who serves as the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing’s associate dean for inclusion and community impact, will drive forward efforts that recruit and support racially and ethnically diverse undergraduate nursing students at UC and build a learning collaborative that promotes anti-racist academic environments at sites across the country.
WVXU produced a story on the grants, which include $750,000 from Genetech's Health Equity and Diversity in STEM Innovation Fund and $300,000 from The Macy Foundation for a project titled, "Eliminating Structural Racism in Nursing Academia: A Systems Change Approach to Anti-Racist Nursing Education."
Ann Gakumo, PhD, of the UC College of Nursing
The UC researchers plan to establish a successful model for recruitment, retention and academic success of racially and ethnically diverse undergraduate nursing students through a variety of steps, including examining undergradaute admission processes to determine structural barriers to equity, admitting a diverse cohort of eight Bachelor of Science degree students in the incoming 2023 freshman class based on factors other than standardized test scores and creating collaborative academic-community partnerships to build capacity for community engagement.
"The College of Nursing is the only college at UC that still requires standardized test scores for undergraduate admission," says Gakumo. "Although this year’s incoming BSN class is the most diverse in recent years, more needs to be done."
To address structural racism in nursing academia, Gukumo and Greer Glazer, PhD, dean emeritus of the College of Nursing, say they will build a learning collaborative in eight to 10 schools. Those schools will develop and implement projects based on areas for growth and improvement.
Spectrum News also covered the story. See that coverage here.
Read more about the grants here.
Lead photo of UC College of Nursing students in a simulation lab/Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand
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