$200K Grant To Assist Latino Health Care Students Given To Saint Elizabeth University

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — To commemorate the start of the new academic year, Saint Elizabeth University recently announced that it had been granted a $200,000 grant over two years to help Latino students from low-income backgrounds pursue careers in healthcare.

The grant was given to the university in Morris Township as part of Bank of America's Progresando Initiative for Hispanic and Latino students studying medicine.

Only 12 Hispanic Serving higher education institutions across the country are a part of the program, according to a statement released by Saint Elizabeth on Monday.

"As an HSI, Saint Elizabeth University is dedicated to supporting our Hispanic student population in achieving academic, professional and personal success. It is critically important that we enhance equity and inclusion in healthcare to improve patient access and outcomes in Hispanic communities," said Anne Clark Bartlett, the university's provost and vice president for the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Life.

In addition to providing Progresando Scholars with additional instruction and tutoring in important prerequisite classes, the grant to Saint Elizabeth University will help to fund the hiring of a bilingual healthcare academic coach and a career advisor.

Progresando Scholars who are facing food insecurity, housing instability, caregiving obligations, or other unforeseen financial needs can also receive emergency funds through the grant.

"Hispanic-Latino graduate students cite gaps in academic preparation and support, caregiving responsibilities, unanticipated financial pressures, and language barriers as major challenges to degree completion," said Alberto Garofalo, President of Bank of America New Jersey.

The funds will help students in six healthcare-related degree programs pursue "high-paying careers in fields with high market demand," according to administrators.

"Through the Progesando initiative with Saint Elizabeth University, not only are we providing the necessary support for Hispanic-Latino students to successfully embark on high-quality healthcare careers," added Garofalo. "We are also helping to strengthen the pipeline to support employer demand, so it’s truly a win-win."

The initiative is expected to help more than 6,200 Hispanic-Latino students commit to healthcare-related programs over the next two years, more than doubling the current student rate.

Bank of America said Progresando aims to "achieve upward economic mobility through careers in health care, while also helping to increase representation and address the shortage of culturally sensitive, Spanish-speaking providers."