Professor Lavin sought the funds provided by the Missouri Board of Nursing. She is well known within the College of Nursing for her consistent efforts to expand and improve its programs and impact. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Training top-notch health-care professionals who provide excellent care across the entire state of Missouri has been a steadfast goal of the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Nursing since its beginnings 35 years ago.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Missouri Board of Nursing share this same mission. To that end, they have selected the UMSL College of Nursing as one of only eight schools or universities in the state to receive grant funding through their Nursing Education Incentive Program.

The program’s aim, according to the Department of Higher Education, is to increase the number of highly trained nurses in the state – with special attention paid to “areas where a shortage of health-care professionals exists.”

Professor Roberta Lavin, who is also the college’s associate dean for academic programs, spearheaded the effort to secure the funding.

UMSL will receive nearly $150,000, which is the largest amount available to recipients.

The award can be used in various ways to strengthen and expand current programs whether through faculty training, development and recruitment, scholarship and graduate student opportunities, or other initiatives. According to Lavin, the College of Nursing has specific plans for the grant, which will have a lasting impact.

“The funds will allow us to increase our enrollment by eight students in the upper-division nursing courses by hiring one new faculty member,” she explains. “The grant will also provide course release time for two faculty members to pursue a PhD or DNP and pay for four graduate students to pursue doctoral work for one year – in return for teaching in Missouri when they graduate. Ultimately, the goal is to increase the nursing workforce.”