Gardner-Webb Awarded Nearly $3 Million to Expand Nursing Education and Community Care

Four-Year Grant will Support 40 Nursing Students Through Additional Clinical Training, Stipends and Free Community Clinics

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University’s Tucker College of Health Sciences has received a nearly $3 million federal grant to expand nursing students’ clinical training. The investment will strengthen the nursing workforce while helping meet health care needs in rural and medically underserved communities.

The grant will fund new simulation equipment, educational resources, outreach opportunities, and professional development for faculty members. Existing courses will incorporate competency-based education, giving students opportunities to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to provide patient-centered care.

The four-year, $2,998,587 award through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (HRSA NEPQR) program will support 40 students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through the traditional or accelerated BSN program options. Each participant will receive a $10,000 stipend and complete 100 additional clinical and experiential learning hours beyond the requirements of their nursing program.

“This grant will allow us to strengthen clinical education, expand hands-on learning opportunities, and better prepare our nursing students to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our communities,” said Dr. Tracy Arnold, dean of Gardner-Webb’s Tucker College of Health Sciences. “By increasing access to community-based clinical experiences, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, we are investing not only in the success of our students but also in the health and well-being of the communities they will serve.”

A cornerstone of the initiative will be two Remote Area Medical clinics, planned for spring 2028 and spring 2030. Participating students will collaborate with Gardner-Webb Doctor of Nursing Practice students to plan and implement the free clinics, working with Remote Area Medical staff to provide free dental, vision, and medical care for uninsured or underserved patients. Gardner-Webb’s Tucker College of Health Sciences previously hosted a Remote Area Medical clinic in 2023.

“The Remote Area Medical clinic provides a meaningful opportunity for our nursing students to gain hands-on experience while delivering much-needed healthcare services to underserved communities,” Arnold said.

“We are grateful for this grant, which enhances the education of pre-licensure nursing students, particularly those from rural areas,” said Dr. Nicole Waters, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at GWU. “This opportunity prepares students to serve high-need areas and patients, and it helps strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce. I extend thanks to Dean Arnold and our dedicated faculty, whose leadership was instrumental in securing the grant and will be vital to its successful implementation.”

The following faculty members collaborated on the grant proposal and will lead the project’s implementation: Dr. Angel Queen, chair of undergraduate programs; Dr. Emily Coggins, clinical coordinator for the Hunt School of Nursing; and Ashley Hull, coordinator of prelicensure programs.

The first 10 students will be selected in January 2027. Additional groups of 10 will be selected each fall beginning in August 2027 for the remaining three years of the grant. Students with previous health care experience will receive priority consideration for participation.

Students will complete the additional learning hours over four semesters. Of those hours, 75 will focus on community-based clinical experiences. Potential opportunities include work with health departments and emergency medical services, along with participation in health fairs, Special Olympics, and Safe Kids initiatives. Planning and implementing the Remote Area Medical clinics will be part of that community-based learning.

The remaining 25 hours will involve simulation-based learning experiences, allowing students to strengthen clinical skills and apply their knowledge in realistic patient-care scenarios.

Following graduation, Participants will engage in a one-year post-graduation Community of Practice, in which they will be provided mentoring and support during their transition into professional nursing practice.

The grant award period began Sept. 1, 2026, and continues through Aug. 31, 2030.

The award follows a separate HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program (HRSA BHWET) grant announced in 2025, providing renewable funding totaling $2.16 million over four years to address behavioral health needs in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina. That initiative prepares psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and clinical mental health counseling students to work in integrated care settings and improve access to behavioral health services.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.