Oklahoma Christian University Receives $75,000 Grant To Support Healthcare Program

Oklahoma Christian University has announced they have received a $75,000 grant to support a healthcare program for nontraditional students.

The grant from Telligen Community Initiative, which is a private charitable foundation based in Iowa, will support the College of Outreach and Innovation’s BSN pipeline program.

The program is an alternative education delivery program for high school students and working professionals who are wanting to earn college credit at their own pace.

It also offers affordable and flexible paths to getting a degree. The program is also aimed to address the nursing shortage across Oklahoma.

Less than half of the program’s students are in Oklahoma Christian’s traditional age range (18-22).

“The work-based nursing program was built on the premise that the next generation of registered nurses are already working in our systems, but they lack the opportunity to upskill for career advancement,” said Dr. Sada Knowles, dean of the College of Outreach and Innovation at Oklahoma Christian University. “There’s a rising need to respond to the changing healthcare and higher education landscapes, and with this program we are able to provide crucial opportunities to healthcare leaders the industry desperately needs.”

“It is heartening and inspiring to see the sustainable and equity-focused strategies that our grantees are using to tackle healthcare workforce shortages from a variety of vantage points,” said Matt McGarvey, executive director of TCI. “Oklahoma Christian University’s program to help healthcare workers pursue their nursing degree while continuing to work full-time is an effort that will continue to positively impact nurses, patients and communities for years to come.”