CCAC Announces New Financial Assistance and Support for Existing and Potential Nursing Students
CCAC Nursing students gather around a training mannequin for hands-on learning experiences.
Pittsburgh
The Community College of Allegheny County has announced a new financial assistance and support program for students interested in Registered nursing careers. The Pathway to Success for Nursing (PSN) program, a comprehensive academic, financial and psychosocial support initiative sponsored by an Allegheny County Community Development Block Grant and federally funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will extend access to nursing education to individuals from low-to-moderate incomes who reside in targeted communities in Allegheny County.
The program is limited to 30 eligible students enrolled in the CCAC pre-nursing or nursing program and will include financial support for tuition and required student expenses, including books, online resources and uniforms. Students accepted into PSN will be required to maintain regular contact with the Program Transition/Retention Coordinator to support attendance and performance, and complete in person or remote meetings to create an individual educational success plan, assess progress, and address any unmet needs or barriers. Transition services will be available from pre-nursing, to nursing, to completion, and students can gain guidance, as needed, to navigate CCAC processes, access tutors and timely interventions that support retention.
"We are privileged to offer such comprehensive assistance to CCAC Nursing and potential nursing students. This program will help fuel the nursing workforce in our region and increase the opportunity for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including ethnic and racial minorities who are underrepresented among registered nurses, to pursue nursing careers," said Kathy Mayle, CCAC Assistant Vice President and Dean of Nursing, Allied Health and Sciences.
PSN eligibility requirements include enrollment at CCAC during the program-funded year (January 1, 2023-December 31, 2023) and taking nursing or nursing pre-requisite coursework with intended progression to the CCAC Nursing program; legal residency within Allegheny County as defined by the grant (excluded areas are the City of Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Trafford, McKeesport and McDonald); completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submission of the Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC); completion of the PSN application; and submission of required documents. Students who are underrepresented minorities in Registered Nursing and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All applicants must meet federal guidelines for low to moderate income.
Applications are accepted anytime. To participate in the summer program, applications need to be received by July 3, 2023. New CCAC students are welcome to apply. Acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to apply, contact Gwen Victum, CCAC Nursing Program Transition/Retention Coordinator, at 412.237.2668 or gvictum@ccac.edu.
CCAC's Nursing program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. In 2023, NursingProcess.org ranked CCAC #3 out of 147 Associate Degree in Nursing schools in Pennsylvania and #6 out of 536 in the Northeast Region.