Teaching Certificate Scholarship

The Connell School is pleased to announce the availability of five (5) forgivable loans up to $10,000 for the Nurse Teaching Certificate. Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, Boston College has established a loan forgiveness program within its Connell School of Nursing. The goal of this program is to provide financial assistance to graduate nursing students who enroll or are enrolled in the nurse teaching certificate program. Boston College designates these participating students as "Tufts Health Plan Foundation Nurse Scholars."

Eligibility

• Enroll or be currently enrolled in the teaching certificate program at Boston College.

• Full-time or part-time student
• Master's Prepared or halfway through the program
• Underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply, meaning those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the nursing profession relative to their numbers in the general population
• US Citizen, permanent resident, refugee or qualified immigrant
• A commitment to teach nursing in Massachusetts
• Awardees will be required to sign a loan agreement, committing to provide a year of full or part-time (at least 8 hours per week) teaching service in Massachusetts within 2 years of graduation. The one-year teaching commitment may be fulfilled through teaching nursing students as a faculty or adjunct faculty-member of an accredited school of nursing in Massachusetts or through clinical instruction of nursing students, as a preceptor or otherwise, at a Massachusetts site approved by Boston College. Download student loan agreement here.
  
• Previous Tufts Health Plan Nurse Scholars Program awardees are not eligible to apply

Program Award Information

• Awards will be made for up to $10,000
• The award must be used between May 2009 and May 2010

How to Apply for the Nurse Scholars Loan Program

The application should include the following:

1. Complete the Nurse Scholars Application Form

2. Goal Statement - no more than 2,000 words describing personal and professional interest in nursing education. Include in this statement:

1. At least 3, no more than 5, measureable educational/teaching goals that you will have for the next 12 months
2. What you hope to accomplish by teaching nursing
3. What competencies you already have, if any, related to teaching nursing
4. What opportunities, if any, that you have had to teach within the past 2 years
5. What challenges you envision while obtaining your education
6. What opportunities you have had to demonstrate your leadership capabilities
7. Cite educational opportunities that you personally have had with faculty and students and underrepresented ethnic minority faculty and students
8. Confirm your commitment to increasing mentoring, recruitment, and retention with future nursing students

3. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

All completed applications will be reviewed by a Selection Review Committee. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Evaluation criteria include:

• Evidence of commitment to a career in nursing education and to mentoring, recruiting and retaining future nurses and nurse colleagues
• Commitment to and quality of nursing education professional development plan as submitted by applicant
• Potential to contribute to the advancement of nursing education.
• Leadership potential

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by April 9th, 2009 (regardless of post-mark). Applications received after that date will not be accepted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Facsimile transmissions will not be accepted. Applicants will be advised of funding decisions by April 17th, 2009.

Applications should be submitted to:

William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Graduate Programs Office, Cushing 202H
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
ATTN: Patricia A. Tabloski

For questions, please contact MaryBeth Crowley, Graduate Program Assistant, at
617-552-4928 or csongrad@bc.edu