Texas Woman's University has received a grant of more than $960,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration to offer scholarships to students pursuing degrees in the health care industry.
"The impact will be significant," said Patricia Holden-Huchton, dean of the College of Nursing. "It will help many students."
The money will go to undergraduate students studying nursing, dental hygiene, speech pathology and nutrition as well as graduate students studying nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
"We have so many students in the health profession - almost half our students," said Richard Nicholas, vice president for student life.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must meet a financial needs test, which looks at family size and income. Applicants must be full-time students, have a major in one of the seven categories and must be doing well in the program.
The university doesn't have a set amount it is offering each student. It will depend on how many students are eligible, Nicholas said. A particular amount of money has been assigned to each of the degree programs based on the number of students the university believes is eligible, he said.
The deadline to apply is July 25; scholarships will be awarded shortly thereafter.
The university plans to have the money allocated in time for the fall semester.
The amount per scholarship will depend on the number of applicants, Nicholas said.
This grant, which was awarded by the federal Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program, is similar to a grant the university received last year from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Last year, the university received $900,000 for students pursuing degrees in nursing and occupational therapy.
"Last year there weren't as many eligible" students, Nicholas said. "There are more potential students in the pool."
For more information, visit www.twu.edu and click "2011-2012 HRSA Scholarships Application Information."
RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is rmehlhaff@dentonrc.com .
