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Two new federal grants will support students and healthcare workers pursuing careers in nursing and nutrition through the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
“These awards reflect the incredible dedication, expertise, and persistence of our CHHS faculty and staff,” said Laricia Longworth-Reed, director of grants strategy with CHHS. “Securing federal grant funding is a highly competitive and rigorous endeavor, making these achievements especially meaningful.”
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awards, totaling $6.25 million, will fund a nursing apprenticeship pilot and provide scholarships for undergraduate nutrition students. Together, the projects aim to reduce barriers to education, expand workforce opportunities and help address healthcare needs in underserved communities.
ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï nursing students Marisa Schreiner, L, listens to lung sounds with a fellow student, Jimena Malta on Aug. 12, 2024, at the Simulation and Skills Laboratory. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Nursing apprenticeship pairs education with paid work
ÍøÆسԹϒs Department of Nursing received a $3 million, four-year grant to implement the Learn and Earn Apprenticeship into Registered Nursing (LEARN) Pilot in partnership with Denver Health.
The program will support 16 frontline healthcare workers as they earn Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees through an earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship model. Participants will receive competency-based education, academic and financial support, and community-based clinical training.
The grant also includes approximately $1.3 million to enhance simulation-based learning in the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower with advanced simulation and virtual reality technologies. The upgrades will benefit nursing students, faculty and healthcare partners. The project will also develop strategies that could support broader nursing workforce development efforts across Colorado.
Dr. Jenny Allert is the project’s principal investigator.
Nutrition scholarships support student success
The Department of Nutrition received a $3.25 million, five-year grant through HRSA’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program. The award will provide scholarships to undergraduate nutrition students from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping reduce financial barriers to completing their degrees.
By supporting students’ retention, persistence and graduation, the project aims to broaden access to careers in nutrition and health and increase the number of qualified professionals entering the field. It is also designed to strengthen workforce diversity and help address healthcare needs in underserved communities.
Dr. Ann Diker is the project’s principal investigator.
The two awards reflect CHHS’s work to connect education with workforce needs and prepare more students and healthcare workers to serve communities across Colorado.