APRIL 25, 2018 – DURHAM, NC – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) announced today that it is investing $1 million in North Carolina A&T State University’s School of Nursing. This is the second investment in a Triad HBCU nursing program by Blue Cross in the last two weeks. The investment is part of Blue Cross NC’s commitment to contribute $50 million toward community health initiatives in 2018. The investment is partially funded through $40 million in tax savings generated through the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
A&T will use the investment for scholarships to address access to care and nursing shortages, to update equipment and technology, and for student development.
“Over the past month, Blue Cross NC has made it a point to invest in our state’s outstanding HBCU nursing programs,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, President and CEO of Blue Cross NC. “We’ve done this because of the central role that nurses play in creating a higher-quality, more affordable health care system. We are excited to be able to help North Carolina A&T admit and train new nurses, especially from underserved and rural populations. As a practicing physician, I understand that in order bring costs down and increase quality, we have to think more broadly about what it means to invest in health.”
According to a recent study by Georgetown University, North Carolina is projected to have the second-largest shortage of nurses in the nation – a deficit of 12,900 nurses. The shortage is especially challenging in rural North Carolina. The state’s metropolitan areas have 32 more nurses for every 10,000 people than rural counties. Seventy of North Carolina’s 80 rural counties are classified as “medical deserts” due to their lack of primary care. Additionally, nurses play a central role in increasing the value of health care, both in terms of improved outcomes and lower costs.
“We appreciate Blue Cross NC’s continued support of North Carolina A&T. These investments are demonstrative of the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing complex challenges in our communities,” Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., said.
A&T’s School of Nursing is a part of the College of Health and Human Sciences and offers the bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) through three entry options which include:
Traditional BSN entry option for new freshmen and transfer students
Accelerated BSN second degree option for those with a non-nursing bachelor degree
BSN completion option for registered nurses with an associate degree
The School of Nursing prepares students to become professional nurses with the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality patient-centered care in a dynamic healthcare environment, assume leadership roles in nursing, and pursue graduate education. A&T nursing faculty use state-of-the art technology to educate nurses based on current theory, research and evidenced based practice. The School of Nursing currently has 195 students enrolled in the pre-nursing and nursing major.
The school will use the investment from Blue Cross NC to provide student scholarships, to support student development and program initiatives, and to upgrade equipment and technology within the School of Nursing.
The $1 million will be invested into the following areas:
Scholarships
There is a significant need for scholarships and financial aid, especially to students from poor, rural areas. These funds will be used to provide scholarship support to students who are nursing majors at A&T. The school anticipates providing 300 nursing students with $2,000 scholarships over the next 2-3 years, and plans on graduating as many as 245 nursing students with their BSN into the state’s workforce.
Equipment and Technology
A&T will also use the funding to support the purchase of new equipment and technology and update existing equipment and technology as needed.
Student Development
Students who earn a nursing degree must pass the NCLEX exam before they are allowed to practice. A&T will use funding from this investment to help prepare students for the NCLEX, and cover fees associated with the test.
Funding will also be used to support faculty development initiatives such as providing opportunities for School of Nursing faculty to engage in professional development initiatives and trainings.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities through innovative health care products, insurance, services and information to more than 3.8 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
JANUARY 8, 2018 – GREENSBORO, NC – Union Square Campus, Inc. has received a $25,000 grant from the Lincoln Financial Foundation in support of its Phase II project. In collaboration with local universities and industry, Union Square Campus Phase II will further educational and partnering opportunities cybersecurity and innovative design. The concept is to house both focus areas in one facility, which would offer planned activities and educational programs; startup space and support; real world, hands-on experience for college students through internships, faculty and student research and business services; and an event hub.
Lincoln Financial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Lincoln Financial Group, believes in empowering people to live greater lives, which advances culture and empowers greater positive change. Its grant is part of Lincoln Financial’s annual $10 million investment in its local communities’ youth education, economic and workforce development, human well-being and arts programs.
About Union Square Campus, Inc.
Union Square Campus, Inc. is an initiative of Opportunity Greensboro, a group of business, foundation and higher education institution leaders in Greensboro, North Carolina. Its mission is to foster community-specific models of collaboration to transform the wealth of local educational and business assets into new community and economic success. The focus is to create an educational campus in underutilized parts of downtown Greensboro. Long-term economic impact would extend beyond Greensboro.
About Lincoln Financial Foundation
The Lincoln Financial Foundation, established in 1962, is a nonprofit organization formed and supported by Lincoln Financial Group. Under the Foundation guidelines, grants are made in the areas of arts, education, human services and economic/workforce development.
On Tuesday January 19th, the Union Square Campus Inc. (USCI) Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution in support of the 2015 Connect NC Bond Referendum. The $2 billion bond referendum includes $1.3 billion for higher education capital construction, repair, and renovation.
If the referendum passes in March, $90 million dollars would fund North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s construction of a new engineering facility, $105 million dollars would fund The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s construction of a facility for both undergraduate nursing and other sciences, and $9.5 million would support new construction, repairs, and renovations at Guilford Technical Community College.
It has been 15 years since the last general obligation bond was authorized to upgrade our state’s infrastructure. The USCI Board asserts that these facilities will educate graduates with the skills to meet Guilford County’s job growth where there are not qualified candidates today
Members of the Union Square Campus Board of Directors are: Harold Martin, Chancellor, NCA&T; Frank Gilliam, Chancellor, UNCG; Randy Parker, President, GTCC; Tim Rice, retired President and CEO, Cone Heath; Therence Pickett, VP/General Counsel, Volvo Trucks / Mack Trucks; Jim Bryant, Bryant and Associates; Carole Bruce, Partner, Smith Moore Leatherwood; Ed Kitchen, COO, Joseph M. Bryan Foundation; Pat Danahy, retired President and CEO, Greensboro Partnership; and Rosalind Fuse-Hall, President, Bennett College.
Guilford County has approved $17M in bonds for the development of the Union Square Campus, reports the Greensboro News & Record. Read all about it here.
Greensboro, N.C. – The Phillips Foundation announced today that it has pledged $1 million to the Union Square Campus to support the design and construction of the first campus building. The building will be a collaborative home for healthcare profession educational programs involving UNCG, NC A&T, GTCC and Cone Health.
“The Union Square Campus at South Elm will advance healthcare and nursing programs for several of Greensboro’s outstanding higher education institutions while dramatically enhancing that end of our downtown and spurring economic development,” said Elizabeth Phillips, executive director of the Foundation. “This initiative fits the Phillips Foundation’s mission of making strategic investments in transformational, game-changer opportunities for Greensboro, and we are proud to be an early advocate for the project.”
Union Square Campus today announced that it will receive a $4 Million gift from The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation and a $1.5 Million gift from The Cemala Foundation. The multi-year commitments will be used for design and construction of the first campus building, an approximately 103,000 square foot facility focused on training and education for healthcare professions. The building will be located at the intersection of South Elm and East Lee streets as part of the first phase of the campus which is estimated to cost between $37-40 million including land, infrastructure and equipment. The building will be a cornerstone of the broader Union Square at South Elm project and serve as a stimulus for surrounding mixed use private development.
Union Square Campus is a key initiative of Opportunity Greensboro, a working group of leaders from Greensboro businesses, foundations and higher education institutions, created by Action Greensboro.
Ed Kitchen, co-chair of Opportunity Greensboro and COO of The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation said, “These two foundation commitments demonstrate strong local support for the Union Square Campus project. We envisioned the public-private projects of Opportunity Greensboro as ones which could build on the strengths of our seven higher education institutions and ‘move the needle’ for economic development. This project certainly does that. It will be transformational for Greensboro.”
Susan Schwartz, Executive Director of the Cemala Foundation said, “The Cemala Foundation is grateful for the initiative and perseverance of so many to dream of and establish Union Square. Cemala is making this investment because Union Square will be a game changer for Greensboro and downtown. An extra benefit is Union Square’s location along the Downtown Greenway. More and more people will be able to live, work, and play in our center city.”
Healthcare Professions – initially, nursing — will comprise the first phase of the project, with the initial key stakeholder/tenants being UNCG, NCA&T, GTCC, and Cone Health. By housing programs together, they can share lab space and equipment, at significant cost savings.
Nursing education at Union Square Campus will engage students at every level: 2-year Associates Degree, RN to BSN and accelerated BSN programs, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and continuing education certificate programs. In addition, GTCC’s Radiography program will be housed at the site, adding more synergies to the shared facilities.
A state-of-the-art healthcare simulation center will be a key component of the project.
