Nursing Faculty Service Cancelable Loans

Lender Code: 711111  

Application / Promissory Note / Disclosure 
Renewal Application

Program Description

Georgia will implement the Georgia Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program. The program was developed by the Health Care Workforce Policy Advisory Committee and is funded by the Georgia Department of Labor and the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.  The Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) will manage this unique graduate education service cancelable loan program designed to encourage Georgians to enter - and remain in - the nursing education profession.  The Georgia Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program offers financing in three core nursing education tracks: Baccalaureate to Master's, Master's to Doctorate, and Post Master's Nursing Education Certification.

Students may borrow money from GSFA in order to enroll in a graduate-level educational program at a public or private Georgia university, which will prepare the Student to serve on the faculty of a Georgia public or private school of nursing (LPN, ADN and/or BSN).  After completion of the graduate-level education program, the Student has two options:  (1) serve as a faculty member in Georgia in a board-approved LPN, ADN and/or BSN nursing program for a designated number of years to "cancel" the loan debt; or (2) repay the loan plus interest, just as one would repay any other Student loan.  Recipients must teach for 1 year for every $2,500 they received through this program, with a maximum of five years to repay the loan.   

Eligible Recipients/ Eligibility Requirements/ Maintaining Eligibility/ Award Amount/  Loan Repayment/ Application Deadline/ Eligible Institutions - Baccalaureate to Master's/ Eligible Institutions - Master's to Doctorate/ Eligible Institutions - Post Master's Nursing Education Certification/ Important Resources for Teaching Professionals

Eligible Recipients 

The applicant shall: 

• Be a nurse registered and in good standing with the state board that licenses nursing in the State of Georgia. 

• Be admitted into a graduate school of nursing in an educational institution in the State of Georgia. The educational institution must be qualified to prepare the loan recipient to be employed as a member of nursing faculty at an educational institution whose students will qualify to be a licensed Practical Nurse ("LPN") or can receive an Associates Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. 

• Be admitted fully into the Educational Program.  Provisional or conditional acceptance will not qualify a student to be a loan recipient. 

• Not obligated to make a refund on a grant, scholarship or loan previously received under any State of Georgia or Federal program for attendance at any postsecondary educational institution; and 

• Not be in default or obligated to pay a balance on a previously defaulted student loan obtained under any state of Georgia or Federal Program for attendance at any postsecondary educational institution. 

• Meet federal Title IV Selective Service registration requirements.  

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant shall: 

• Be a legal resident of Georgia for at least 12 months prior to the term for which you are seeking aid; 

• Be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under Federal Title IV requirements; 

Maintaining Eligibility 

To maintain eligibility, loan recipients must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress in their program of study and must not have a one-year break in enrollment. 

Award Amount 

A maximum of $10,000 may be awarded to a loan recipient pursuing a Doctoral or Masters Degree.  A maximum of $5,000.00 may be awarded to a loan recipient enrolled in a Post Masters program not leading to a Doctoral Degree.  Semester awards will be based on the number of credit hours in which a loan recipient is enrolled each semester. The award per semester is $2,500.00 for a student enrolled for 9 hours or less, and $3,333.00 for a student enrolled for more than 9 hours. 

Loan Repayment 

A loan recipient may repay the loan through teaching in a nursing program leading to a certificate or degree in nursing at an educational institution whose graduates will be qualified to practice nursing in the State of Georgia.  

If the loan recipient fails to complete their program, fails to obtain the required credentials, or fails to repay the loan through teaching, the loan recipient will be required to repay the loan in cash.  Interest will be applied to the outstanding balance.  

The terms of both service and cash repayment are discussed in detail in the Disclosure Statement and the Promissory Note. 

Application Deadline 

The Commission will accept applications on June 1st of each year. Loans will be awarded on a first come, first completed basis until the funds are depleted.  

Eligible Institutions - Baccalaureate to Master's

This scholarship track focuses on registered nurses with clinical practice experience who have a bachelor's degree and are seeking a graduate degree to pursue teaching in the nursing field.   Eligible Students will receive up to $10,000 to cover the cost of education and daily living expenses.   

Eligible institutions 

Any private or public university in Georgia with a graduate level nursing program that is accredited and whose master's prepared graduates have the educational credentials necessary for credentialing at an advance practice level.  As of May 2003, the following institutions have the required educational programming: 

• Albany State University

• Armstrong Atlantic State University

• Brenau University

• Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

• Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Mercer University

• Georgia College and State University

• Georgia Southern University

• Georgia State University 

• Kennesaw State University

• Medical College of Georgia

• North Georgia College and State University

• State University of West Georgia

• Valdosta State University 

Considerations

In selecting an institution and educational programming, Students should consider future goals and objectives. A Master's degree in nursing is the basic requirement for employment as a nursing instructor or faculty member in most Georgia nursing programs, and this graduate degree will afford the successful recipient with a range of teaching options.   However, Students should consult with faculty leadership in those schools or institutions in which they may subsequently seek employment.  Some institutions may require additional experience in educational competencies and tenure track positions may only be available to individuals with a doctoral degree. 

Eligible Institutions - Master's to Doctorate

This scholarship track focuses on Master's-prepared nurses, who are presently in clinical practice or an educational setting, who are seeking a doctoral degree in the nursing field or the education field (PhD or EdD), to better prepare the individual to pursue or remain in teaching in the nursing field.   Eligible Students will receive up to $10,000 to cover the cost of education and daily living expenses. 

Eligible Institutions

Any private or public university in Georgia with a doctoral-level nursing program that is accredited or doctoral level education program (PhD or EdD) that is accredited.  As of May 2003, the following institutions have the required educational programming:

• Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing 

• Georgia State University, School of Nursing

• Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing

• Georgia State University, College of Education

• University of Georgia, College of Education

• Georgia Southern University, College of Education

• State University of West Georgia, College of Education

• Valdosta State University, College of Education

Considerations

Students are eligible for a maximum total award of $10,000 under the Georgia Nursing Faculty Scholarship Program.   As such, a Student who has received previous funding through this program may not be eligible to receive additional financing for pursuit of a doctoral degree.   Current Master's-prepared nursing instructors or faculty would be eligible for the award if no previous award through this program had been provided.

Eligible Institutions - Post Master's Nursing Education Certification

This scholarship track focuses on Master's level, certified advanced practice nurses who are seeking minimal additional coursework and a practicum to better prepare the individual to successfully pursue teaching in the nursing field.   Eligible Students will receive up to $5,000 to cover the cost of education and daily living expenses. 

Eligible Institutions

Any private or public university in Georgia with a graduate level nursing program that is nationally accredited and whose master's prepared graduates are eligible for credentialing at an advance practice level.   In addition, the institution must offer a "certification" program in nursing education, which provides at least twelve (12) hours of post-Master's educational coursework and a teaching practicum of no less than one semester in another Georgia nursing school approved by the Board of Nursing or the Board of Examiner for Licensed Practical Nurses.  As of May 2003, the following institutions have the required educational programming:

• Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Considerations

Students should confirm with that the coursework in the certification program is structured to enable transfer of credit for use in doctoral level education.

Important Resources for Teaching Professionals

For more information on teaching certification requirements, you may contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission toll-free at 1-800-869-7775. In Metro Atlanta, call (404) 657-9000 or visit their web site at www.gapsc.com.