Mercy College of Ohio receives Nursing Workforce Diversity grant of over $2 million

Officials at Mercy College of Ohio recently published a news release stating that the school was awarded a $2,146,905 grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The government-funded grant will help provide scholarships, support services, and cultural competence training for faculty and staff. The grant is intended to increase the enrollment and degree completion of students from marginalized communities and low-income backgrounds. 

The Nursing Workforce Diversity grant will have a great impact on students at Mercy College, according to Susan Wajert, PhD, President of Mercy College. "We believe this will support our efforts to recruit and retain underrepresented individuals in our nursing programs and increase the number of nurses from underrepresented populations providing care. These support services can be the difference in students completing their courses, obtaining licensure and successfully launching their careers as nurses," Wajert said.

Jodi Pahl, Group Chief Nursing Executive of Bon Secours Mercy Health (a partner of Mercy College), reacted to the information of the grant. "Nurses really are needed more than ever and as a ministry, we are focused on and committed to hiring and developing a workforce that reflects the communities in which we live and work," Pahl said, adding, "Mercy College's NWD grant will assist us in our goals of attracting, retaining and developing nurses from every walk of life to provide excellent healthcare."

Funding through the HRSA grant will be available to both new and continuing students at Mercy College from July 2021 through June 2025.