Courtesy of The College of AR at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR —The College of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) nursing program will obtain a $15 million funding to assemble a brand new tutorial constructing as a part of a significant legislative package deal championed by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR). UAPB is a public HBCU in Pine Bluff, Arkansas that was based in 1873 and is the second oldest public school or college in Arkansas.
“I’m proud to ship investments to Arkansas that assist progress and growth in addition to enhance the standard of life for Pure State residents. Enhancing UAPB’s capacity to offer medical coaching alternatives will profit college students and assist tackle the scarcity of healthcare suppliers in communities throughout our state. I look ahead to seeing how a brand new, technologically superior facility will serve nursing college students and college who will, in flip, serve the wants of Arkansas for years to return,” Boozman stated.
In keeping with UAPB Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander, the funding represents a significant funding that may enhance our academic services and tools for getting ready future generations of nurses and addressing the healthcare workforce wants.
“This facility shall be a sport changer for UAPB,” Alexander stated. “The funds will allow us to construct a technologically superior nursing faculty facility that may strengthen the college’s function in addressing the nursing scarcity and creating and rising the well being care workforce throughout our state. On behalf of UAPB, I want to specific our gratitude to Senator Boozman for his dedication to our establishment and to this area of the state.”

UAPB gives two program tracks: a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) diploma and a registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (R.N. to BSN) program for nurses who’re already licensed. UAPB Provost & Vice Chancellor for Tutorial Affairs, Dr. Andrea Stewart, added that “this funding to assemble a brand new technologically superior facility will improve the inspiration of the nursing pre-licensure baccalaureate program. Moreover, plans are underway to develop and set up new high quality well being care packages.”
Dr. Brenda Jacobs, Chair of the UAPB Nursing Division, applauded the funding as a key milestone in her plans to strengthen this system on the HBCU. In keeping with Jacobs, the brand new funding permits UAPB to construct upon prior successes, “There isn’t any doubt that it will permit us to considerably improve our program and recruit a brand new technology of gifted nursing college students.”
The laws was signed into legislation on March 23, 2024, as a part of funding for well being care sources and schooling, nationwide safety, authorities oversight, and group investments secured for tasks throughout Arkansas, not simply this explicit HBCU.
Alexander stated an funding of this magnitude will considerably assist UAPB’s objective of elevating nursing to certainly one of its distinctive signature packages. “The good impression of this funding shall be felt by the state for a few years to return. Such a facility will appeal to high quality college students, college, and employees and improve the general high quality of the scholar expertise within the new studying surroundings,” Alexander stated.
The Congressional funds comply with a significant reward of $1.1 million that the HBCU nursing program obtained in late 2022 from CHI St. Vincent, a number one regional well being community serving Central and Southwest Arkansas, for college growth, pupil assist, and a wide range of different program enhancements. UAPB Vice Chancellor for Institutional Development George Cotton pointed to the longer term as he assessed the award’s impression. “This stage of funding permits UAPB to construct a powerful case for elevated funding in Nursing and STEM. In some ways, this award serves as a catalyst that may appeal to even higher sources to this nice establishment.” Cotton acknowledged.
Associated
