Philander Smith University in Little Rock (PSU) has received formal approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
The program, which will be housed within the Dr. Joycelyn Elders School of Allied and Public Health, aims to address the critical shortage of registered nurses across the state and region.
The HLC’s Institutional Actions Council granted approval in May, affirming the university’s capacity to deliver a 124-credit-hour BSN program. The program will admit up to 50 students per year, with its first cohort expected to launch “soon,” according to a press release.
Students in the program will engage in academic coursework, clinical rotations and a nursing apprenticeship program designed to provide mentoring and hands-on experience, particularly for PSU-trained nursing assistants advancing their careers.
Scholarships, many of which include a service component to Arkansas, are also built into the program.
The university has secured more than $8.3 million in philanthropic and grant support to develop and launch the BSN program. Major contributors include:
- Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church – $2 million
- Windgate Foundation – $1.75 million
- TAWANI Foundation – $1 million
- United Methodist Foundation for Arkansas – $250,000
- Support from The Frueauff Foundation, Blue & You Foundation and Title III Funds
PSU also received the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) grant, which provided nearly $392,000 in direct funding and $197,000 of in-kind support from Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
“The approval of our BSN program affirms both the urgent need for qualified nurses and our commitment to producing graduates who are equipped, empowered and eager to serve,” Maurice D. Gipson, Philander Smith University president and CEO, said in the press release. “With this program, we are not only expanding our academic offerings — we are investing in the health and future of Arkansas.”
The press release stated that PSU’s program aims to strengthen the nursing pipeline with well-prepared, community-centered professionals who are ready to serve in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and home health settings.
“This new degree program is a strategic response to a growing health care crisis,” Shannon Clowney Johnson, vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer, said in the release. “We are building a bold and intentional pipeline of BSN-prepared nurses who will make a measurable impact in communities across Arkansas and beyond.”
Additional details regarding program launch, application timelines and admissions are expected in the coming weeks.
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