Northern Michigan University has recently been granted Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for eligible adults seeking to be part of NMU's bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. The funding was granted by Michigan Works!, an association that provides services and support to Michigan's workforce development system.
“Basically, what we do with any of these programs is work to ensure that we're helping prepare the workforce for the in-demand careers that we have available,” said Hanna Duckwall, director of Talent Services at Michigan Works!. “We know that nursing is one of those in-demand careers. What we can then do with the funds that we have available to us is help ensure that we're helping to get people who need additional funds to get training.”
"The School of Nursing at NMU is thankful for the help provided by Michigan Works! to establish access to WIOA funds for our nursing students," said NMU Professor and RN to BSN Coordinator Katie Menard. "We hope this funding will ease some of the financial stressors that exist for our students and allow them to focus on gaining the necessary knowledge to establish and/or advance their careers in the nursing discipline."
Nursing is one of 13 programs that students can potentially get funding for at Northern through Michigan Works! However, the nursing program is the first bachelor's degree program on the list. The other programs, such as the police academy or HVAC, are for industry-recognized certifications. Michigan Works! also helps adults find a career that is a good fit for them while also being in-demand.
“Sometimes a person will come to us and say, ‘Hey, I'm looking to do this; I need some help along the way,'" Duckwall said. "As we evaluate, we might be able to help them get relevant training. This is done on a case-by-case basis. If someone approaches us looking for a CDL or cybersecurity certification, we're able to direct them to a variety of programs and find the ones that fit them the best.”
For more information on the programs that receive WIOA funding, click here.