CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is trying to encourage diversity among its medical field students.
For many families, college can be a costly burden, especially as the economy continues to feel the strain of the coronavirus.
Now, thanks to a federal grant, 325 Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi health professions students will be propelled toward graduating on time and with less student debt.
“It's for medical students, veterinarians, other health care professions, and nursing,” said Dr. Bunny Forgione Interim Dean for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The $3.2 million grant money is to help promote diversity by giving scholarships to full-time students who have a financial need and come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Of course the community is diverse and so this will build the nursing profession with diversity in this particular area,” said Forgione.
These TAMU-CC students will get the chance to sit down with a ‘success coach’ and layout a plan that ensures they’re on track to graduate.
“That may include tutoring, mentoring with the student nursing association, faculty mentoring, and they also will go to workshops,” said Forgione.
Forgione says the thousands of dollars each student is getting will hopefully be enough so they don’t have to worry about keeping up with a part-time job to pay for school.
In the end, the university wants to see their health professions students succeed so they can serve our community better.
“We find that patients who can look at a health care professional who looks like them and thinks like them, they really listen to that healthcare professional and take what they’re saying to heart and they also have a great deal of trust,” said Forgione.
TAMU-CC is one in only 79 universities across the country to receive this federal grant.
Students can apply by submitting their FAFSAapplication.
