2019-2020 Application now available.
In May 2005 the Health Service Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) approved the funding of 0.1% of regulated patient revenue for the use in expanding the pool of nurses in the State by increasing the capacity of nursing schools in Maryland. Funding for the Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship (referred to hereafter as Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship) is provided by the Nurse Support Program.
APPLICATION
The application for the 2019-2020 academic year is now available on MDCAPS.
Who may apply: Current full-time or part-time graduate students enrolled at an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary institution in a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN, MS) program, post-graduate certificate program in nursing education, Doctorate (PhD, DNP, EdD) program or another graduate-level nursing program required to prepare individuals to become nursing faculty.
How to apply: Complete the Graduate Nurse Faculty Scholarship application online at https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us (application instructions are below), an official transcript from current institution, and a sponsorship form signed by the dean or director of the Maryland nursing school sponsoring the applicant.
When to apply: For priority consideration, applicants should apply by July 1 to start in the fall semester, by December 1 to start in the spring semester, and prior to April 1 to start in the summer semester. Applications will be accepted after the term deadline and awards will be made with available funds.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
An individual must be a Maryland resident and be fully admitted and enrolled at a Maryland college or university as a full-time or part-time graduate student in a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN, MS) program, post-graduate certificate program in nursing education, Doctorate (PhD, DNP, EdD) program or another graduate-level nursing program required to prepare individuals to become nursing faculty. Students who are conditionally admitted to a program of nursing or with an entering grade point average (GPA) of less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are not eligible until such time as they are fully admitted and have established a 3.0 GPA. For purposes of this graduate nursing financial aid program, full-time is defined as nine or more graduate level credit hours per semester or recognized period as outlined by the approved nursing program of study (e.g. mini-mester, quarter, continuous year-round enrollment plan, accelerated course program); part-time is defined as any credit hours taken less than nine credit hours per semester or recognized period as outlined by the approved nursing program of study. Audited courses cannot be used to reach the credit hours required for full-time or part-time status.
A former Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nurse Scholarship (GNF) recipient may continue to receive scholarship funding to complete a higher degree for faculty preparation or after joining a nursing program as a faculty member. Example: Completing MS in Nursing with GNF scholarship and later returning to school for Doctoral degree with GNF scholarship funding. Each event is separate and requires an additional service obligation commitment of one year tuition support for one year of service.
AWARD AMOUNT
The
Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship is equal to all tuition and mandatory fees
for courses in the approved nursing plan of study at Maryland public and
independent colleges and universities.
Eligible recipients are awarded for the Fall and Spring
semesters in a single academic year. If you are interested in receiving the
scholarship for the Summer semester,
you must request in writing to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)
each award year for consideration.
To request this information, please email MHEC
at careerbased.mhec@maryland.gov.
PAYMENT
The Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship award amount on the award letter is an estimate based on the reported enrollment plan from the student’s application. The award will be adjusted by the recipient’s institution to reflect the actual dollar amount of tuition and mandatory fees per semester.
AWARD RENEWAL
The Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship award is automatically renewed for the full term of approved study, including summer terms, if the recipient meets the following criteria:
- is a Maryland resident;
- remains enrolled in an eligible nursing program;
- maintains a 3.0 annual grade point average on a 4.0 grade point average scale (includes Fall and Spring grades for previous academic year);
- maintains satisfactory academic progress according to the institution's standards
Scholarship
awards are automatically renewed for the full term of approved study provided
all eligibility requirements are fulfilled.
A request for a summer
term award must be submitted in writing to MHEC each year for consideration.
Renewal funding is contingent on available funds.
SERVICE OBLIGATION
You must sign and return a promissory note agreeing to begin fulfillment of your service obligation as a nurse faculty at a Maryland institution with nursing degree programs or within a hospital education department as a nursing professional development coordinator or hospital educator or in an approved educational role serving Maryland schools or hospitals by doing the following:
- work one year as a full-time nurse faculty member/hospital educator/ approved educational role for each academic year, or portion thereof, the award was received as a full-time or part-time student; or
- as outlined in a recipient’s service obligation agreement and promissory note.
Individuals fulfilling their service obligations as a part-time nurse faculty member or hospital educator or approved educational role serving Maryland must work two years for each year of their full-time employment obligation. Full-time employment is defined as 35 or more hours per week or a contract for 12 or more academic credit hours per semester in didactic instruction. Part-time employment is defined as 20-34 hours per week or a contract for less than 12 academic credit hours in didactic instruction or a clinical instruction contract for less than 12 contact hours or combination of less than 12 academic credit and/or contact hours per semester.
The service obligation begins within six months after completion of your degree program, and cannot be fulfilled prior to completion. If you hold this scholarship with any other award requiring a service obligation, you must perform your service in consecutive years. A recipient must meet the service obligation at any Maryland institution granting nursing degrees and is not required to work at the sponsoring institution. If the service obligation is not met, the Graduate Nursing Faculty award must be repaid with interest. If the scholarship is held with any other award requiring a service obligation, the service must be performed in consecutive years.
NURSE FACULTY POSITION OPENINGS
SERVICE OBLIGATION QUESTIONNAIRE
GNF Service Obligation Questionnaire Form
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