The University of West Florida has announced an endowment gift of $600,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) to the UWF Foundation. The gift will provide support for launching a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program at UWF with tracks in nursing education and nursing administration at a future date. With an anticipated match through the State of Florida’s Major Gifts Challenge program, the gift will create a $1.02 million endowment to support UWF’s Nursing program.
“We are grateful for BCBSF’s investment in UWF and its commitment to working as a partner to address the critical shortage of nurses in Northwest Florida and our state,” said John Cavanaugh, UWF president. “It is clear that BCBSF truly understands the difference a MSN program will make in educating the nursing leaders and faculty of tomorrow.”
The MSN track in nursing education will help address faculty shortages at the junior college and university levels. A second track in nursing administration will service the local community’s health care needs.
“We congratulate UWF for its continued expansion of nurse education in the region,” said Catherine Kelly, BCBSF vice president for Public Affairs, Signature Programs. “More master’s prepared nurses will contribute to the delivery of high-quality health care and patient satisfaction, as well as generate more faculty who are an essential component to easing the nursing shortage. BCBSF through its ‘Generation RN’ program is proud to offer our continued support for these objectives that benefit all Floridians.”
Currently, UWF offers a generic four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing and also a RN to BSN bridge program designed for registered nurses interested in furthering their career through higher education. UWF’s limited access nursing program is designed to prepare students to become clinical generalists capable of planning health care for individuals, families or groups. Scholarships for undergraduates in nursing are available through an endowment established at UWF by BCBSF in 2005. The 2007 graduating class includes two students who received BCBSF Health Scholarships, and the 2008 class includes six more.
“We truly appreciate the wonderful gift from BCBSF in support of our new MSN program,” said Marilyn Lamborn, director and associate professor of Nursing. “As before with other gifts we have received from BCBSF, this gift will go toward supporting our program and students who will go on to make a difference in nursing education, administration and health care and the nursing shortage in this area of the state of Florida.”
“Generation RNsm” is a public/private partnership initiated by BCBSF to build an expanded, stable and culturally diverse nurse workforce in Florida. Combined with state matching dollars and other private support, BCBSF-endowed scholarships fund the education of more than 200 nursing students every year. Endowed professorships, graduate student scholarships and support for innovative programs help ensure sustained growth in nursing.
BCBSF is a leader in Florida’s health industry. BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 8.6 million people. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, visit its Web site at bcbsfl.com.
For more information or to make a gift to UWF, contact Dean Van Galen, UWF Vice President for Development, at (850) 474-3306 or e-mail dvangalen@uwf.edu.
