A team of faculty members and staff at the College of Nursing (AUCON) recently received the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) grant to support a project, Summer Transition to Excellence Program (STEP into Nursing). Assistant Professor Dr. Katilya Ware and Student Advisor Stephanie Wood are co-Principal Investigators on the project. Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Chris Martin and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Caralise Hunt serve as co-Investigators.
The project which runs from March 2022 to December 2022 will focus on easing transition from high school to college for first-time students majoring in prenursing by establishing a summer bridge program. The program administrators believe their efforts will increase retention through academic and social preparation.
The STEP into Nursing summer bridge program is offered at no cost to participants and their families. Students will enroll in a three-credit hour course in which tuition is covered in the form of a scholarship through the summer bridge program. The program has been thoughtfully developed to provide opportunities for first-time undergraduate students who are first generation, minority in race/ethnicity, reside in local, rural counties in Alabama, identify as a gender with low representation in nursing, or demonstrate financial need to be successful at Auburn University College of Nursing.
According to Dr. Ware, establishing a bridge program at AUCON can create a pathway of success from “admission to graduation” in first-time undergraduate nursing students. “This can aid in achieving a diverse nursing workforce that reflects the society it serves and is prepared to address social determinants of health and health disparities to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of Alabama,” she added.
Enrolled students will participate in on-campus structured activities that provide academic and social support from June 26, 2022, to July 8, 2022. Activities will include, but will not be limited to, time and stress management skills, good study habits, benefits of journaling, introduction to academic support resources, and career readiness. Following the on-campus portion of the program, ongoing mentoring and support will be provided throughout the summer and fall semesters to promote academic success and socialization to college life.
