Jie Chen
Jie Chen, associate professor, NIU School of Nursing, was recently awarded an Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) grant for $66,515 to improve support for underserved and academically at-risk students.
“Our faculty and student tutors are eager to work with at-risk students to promote active learning and effective study strategies,” said Chen, who co-wrote the grant with Anne-Marie Kuchinski, National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) coordinator. “One of the goals of the project is to reduce the academic equity gaps that our marginalized student groups have experienced and may have contributed to the attrition rates during the first year of our prelicensure undergraduate program.”
The COVID-19 pandemic posed many challenges for students who experienced modified clinical opportunities, which makes additional support for licensing exams like this even more important.
“This grant came at the right time,” Chen said. “We were seeking funding to support our underserved and academically at-risk students.”
Chen said thanks to the university, college and school administrations’ support, the School of Nursing grant team, including seven faculty and 10 student tutors, started the project at the beginning of the spring semester which is key to ensuring Huskie students’ academic success.
“Our students’ success is at the forefront of all we do and we are thrilled to offer our students even more support with Dr. Chen’s IBHE grant,” said Kari Hickey, acting chair, NIU School of Nursing. “Not only will this support our students’ success, but it will support successful graduation of baccalaureate nurses to support the nation’s healthcare workforce.”
Learn more about NIU School of Nursing.
