PUC Receives Million Dollar Grant to Expand Nursing Student Access

For the second year in a row, Pacific Union College was awarded a grant from California’s Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI). This year totalling $1,050,000, the funding will support expanded training opportunities for nurses at both the Angwin campus and the expansion campuses, and ultimately combat the statewide nursing shortage while improving access to equitable health care.

"The PUC School of Nursing expresses its deep gratitude for the generous support received from HCAI and title VIII funding,” said Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Kimberly Dunker. “Given the high cost and expenses involved in running nursing programs, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been granted this additional funding. It enables us to ensure the availability of necessary resources for expanding our program, including faculty, skills and lab materials, simulation resources, and faculty development. This grant will cover the direct costs associated with expanding our nursing program, thereby providing more opportunities for training."

In March, HCAI awarded $27.4 million in grants to more than 30 registered nurse training programs, including PUC.

PUC’s nursing department received the grant after a competitive evaluation process, with the grant program’s criteria prioritizing funding to residency programs that demonstrate success in graduation and NCLEX pass rates, graduate job placement to rural high-need locations, and student diversity within the department—all areas where PUC excels.

Funding is split into two portions with $630,000 going toward the Angwin campus and $420,000 funding the off-campus programs, including Sonora, Ukiah, and Napa.

The grant award was made possible through the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Act, which helps organizations create and expand primary care residency programs, as well as registered nursing, midwifery, and family nurse practitioner and physician assistant training programs. The Song-Brown Act supports HCAI’s goal to increase and diversify the health workforce, including the field of nursing.