Administration and faculty in the Gardner-Webb Hunt School of Nursing are introducing a significant initiative -- the GWU Foothills Nursing Promise. This plan offers a 50% tuition reduction for graduates of Cleveland Community College, Isothermal Community College, and Gaston Community College, as well as for residents of those counties interested in attending the online Davis RN-BSN Program. The same discount has also been secured for Gardner-Webb ASN graduates.
"We are excited to offer this initiative as a way to increase access to education to nurses within our local communities," declared Director of the Hunt School of Nursing Dr. Tracy Arnold. "By providing affordable, quality education to registered nurses, we are empowering them to impact their local communities."
Gardner-Webb President Dr. William M. Downs affirmed the University's commitment to area nursing students. "Improving access to a top-tier nursing education for our neighbors in the Tri-County foothills region is hugely important to us at Gardner-Webb," emphasized Downs. "We have one of - if not the - most comprehensive arrays of nursing degree programs in the state, and we are determined to remove cost as a barrier to aspiring students in our own backyard. Geography really does matter when it comes to caring for our communities, and we intend to staff our region with expertly trained nurses who know and love the area. With this new tuition discount initiative, it truly does make sense to choose local and to attend the best."
Dr. Erin Montgomery, Chair of the Davis RN-BSN program, described this bold decision as a huge win for nurses and residents of Cleveland and surrounding counties. "When nurses further their education, patient outcomes are directly improved, benefitting both the patient and our community," she stated.
Achieving a BSN degree also allows for career advancement and prepares nurses for graduate degrees. Once a student graduates with their BSN, they may be seamlessly admitted into the MSN or DNP programs within the HSON. In addition, Gardner-Webb's programs play a critical role in addressing the current nationwide nursing shortage.
A leader in nursing education, Gardner-Webb's HSON started the Davis RN-BSN program in 1982. Courses are offered over 8-week periods. The curriculum develops students' leadership skills, increases their understanding of the current healthcare system, broadens their understanding of culturally diverse client needs, and allows for the opportunity to grow professionally. Students are assigned a nursing faculty advisor who works with them personally throughout the program.
For information about enrollment, contact Nursing Enrollment Development Officers Kristina Moore at kjmoore@gardner-webb.edu or 704-406-2567 or Amber Payne at apayne@gardner-webb.edu or 704-406-2461.