William Paterson University's Graduate Program in Nursing will continue to provide loans to full-time or part-time graduate nursing students through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), a nationwide program administered by the Division of Nursing, U.S. Public Health Service. The NFLP can provide up to $30,000 per year in loans for nurses enrolled in the nursing education track of the degree program to cover tuition, fees, books, and other related expenses.

Repayment of the loan does not begin until after graduation; 85% of the loan will be cancelled for degree recipients who work for 4 years as a nurse faculty member. All U.S. citizens, nationals and permanent residents who possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing meet the requirement for admission into the graduate nursing program.

The NFLP was created to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty and ease the nursing faculty shortage. "Without qualified nursing faculty, we can't educate the nurses of tomorrow," says Julie Bliss, chair of the University's department of nursing. "This program offers nurses an opportunity to earn a graduate nursing degree with loan funds that can be forgiven through service as a faculty member."

For further information, contact William Paterson's Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services at http://ww2.wpunj.edu/admissn. For NFLP applications contact Kem Louie, associate professor of nursing and director of the graduate nursing program, at 973-720-3215 or 973-720-3511 or e-mail [email protected].

Source: Press release, July 24, 2008, William Paterson University.