In this update:
- Federal Opportunities
- HRSA Issues NOFO for Nurse Faculty Loan Program
- HRSA Issue NOFO for Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program
Federal Opportunities
HRSA Issues NOFO for Nurse Faculty Loan Program
On November 26th, the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). The NFLP aims to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide by providing low interest loans for students studying to be nurse faculty. Graduates who work as nurse faculty may qualify for up to 85% loan cancellation over four years. Loan support can cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, lab expenses, and other reasonable education expenses (including student nurse educator development activities).
Through this opportunity, HRSA will award $25.6 million in total funding across 80 awards. The maximum award amount per organization will be $2 million, with loan support not exceeding $40,000 per student for any academic period. Contracts will last for one year, starting on July 1, 2025.
Eligible applicants are accredited schools of nursing with advanced nursing education programs. Awarded programs will be expected to:
- Establish and maintain a dedicated NFLP loan fund with proper fiscal oversight;
- Disburse loans to students committed to becoming nurse faculty upon graduation;
- Manage compliance, cancellations, and reporting to ensure program effectiveness.
The NOFO is available here. Applications are due on February 24, 2025.
HRSA Issue NOFO for Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program
On November 21st, HRSA issued a NOFO for the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program. This program seeks to increase diversity in health professions by providing funding for scholarships that support students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need, including racial and ethnic minorities. Through this opportunity, HRSA will award over $51 million in total funding across 85 grants. Up to $650,000 will be awarded annually to each health professions program. Student scholarships may not exceed $40,000 per academic year. Contracts will last for five years, beginning July 1, 2025.
Eligible applicants include accredited schools and graduate programs for medicine, nursing, physician assistants, public health, and behavioral/mental health. Priority will be given to applicants with a higher proportion of 1) underrepresented minority students; 2) graduates practicing in primary care; or 3) graduates working in medically underserved communities.
The NOFO is available here. Applications are due on February 19, 2025.