Nurse Faculty Loan Program - Applicant Organization: Rush University, College of Nursing Address: 600 S. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612 Project Director: Julie Anne Hoff; Phone: 312.942.5732; Email: Julie_a_hoff@rush.edu Website: https://www.rushu.rush.edu/college-nursing Funding Opportunity: HRSA-26-079, Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) Award Number: 6 E01HP28838-02-06 (Continuation Application) Project Title: Preparing the Next Generation of Nurse Faculty Through an Integrated Academic Health System: The Rush Future Nurse Faculty Academy Funds Requested: $1,977,759 (Federal Capital Contribution) Purpose and Need. The national shortage of qualified nurse faculty directly constrains the nation’s capacity to educate its nursing workforce. U.S. schools of nursing turned away more than 80,000 qualified applications in 2024, and the AACN 2024–2025 vacancy survey identified 1,693 unfilled full-time faculty positions (a 7.9% national vacancy rate), 84% requiring or preferring doctorally prepared candidates. Rush University College of Nursing (RUCON), ranked No. 3 among DNP programs nationally, requests NFLP support to expand and prepare this critical workforce. Proposed Project. Rush will pair NFLP low-interest loans and loan cancellation with the Rush Future Nurse Faculty Academy, an integrated faculty preparation model embedded in its PhD and DNP programs within a fully integrated academic health system. Scholars will complete three graduate nurse educator courses—supporting eligibility for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) examination—alongside a longitudinal Academy providing structured mentoring, a supervised teaching residency across classroom, clinical, simulation, and online settings, and individualized career coaching through placement and the first faculty year. Target Population. Doctoral (PhD and DNP) nursing students (n=50) committed to careers as nurse faculty or eligible academic-practice preceptors, recruited through holistic admissions and the Rush Nurse-to-Faculty Pathway, with emphasis on a diverse pipeline reflective of the communities Rush serves. Goals and Objectives. Five aims organize the project: (1) build a diverse, sustainable faculty pipeline; (2) remove financial barriers and support student success; (3) deliver the Academy; (4) support transition, placement, and retention in academic careers; and (5) ensure excellence through governance, evaluation, and national dissemination. In 2026–2027, Rush anticipates supporting 50 new NFLP borrowers (0 continuing). Targets include preparing 100% of scholars through educator coursework and the Academy, a doctoral graduation rate of at least 90%, placement of at least 85% of graduates into qualifying faculty or academic-practice positions within 12 months, and a default rate below 5%. Continuation Status, Capacity, and Stewardship. Rush submits this continuation of Award 6 E01HP28838-02-06 as a refreshed proposal reflecting new University and College leadership, evolving needs and teaching sites, and lessons of the current project period. The revolving loan fund currently carries a negative balance; Rush is executing a 30-60-90 day improvement plan in active partnership with its HRSA program officer, supported by an institution-wide Governance Committee, thirty-plus standard operating procedures, and proactive default prevention to restore the fund and ensure compliant administration.
