Texas Woman’s University was recently awarded $900,000 in federal grant money to help economically disadvantaged students pursue degrees in nursing and occupational therapy.

The two TWU health care programs were among hundreds of programs in the health profession throughout the nation that received a portion of $96 million awarded to public universities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration through the Disadvantaged Students Program.

The scholarships would give TWU students a huge financial advantage that could potentially allow them to take larger class loads with greater retention and graduation rates, said Richard Nicholas, TWU vice president for student life.

“So many of our students work, even in advanced programs like nursing, and that sometimes sets them back,” Nicholas said. “This will keep them fully registered in the programs, enhance retention rates and graduation rates. This will get students through programs faster.”

Since more than 40 percent of the TWU student body takes courses leading to a career in health care and the university is not a high-income institution, TWU was eligible to apply for the funds and quickly received them, Nicholas said.

But the money doesn’t go to university coffers, he said.

“Every bit of this money is for scholarships. All the dollars go to students and that’s rare in grants,” Nicholas said.

Officials are planning to have scholarship awards in place by the end of August and will typically award student scholarships for the full year, he said. Each award will likely be substantial, valued at several thousand dollars.

Awarded through the Public Health Services Act and

the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the grant money will provide $664,350 for scholarships to undergraduate nursing students and $235,650 for scholarships to students in occupational therapy.

The number of health professionals in the workplace in the United States is not adequate compared to the population served, said Kathleen Sebelius, secretary for the Health and Human Services Administration.

The federal grant funds would support the education of disadvantaged students who are more likely to fill health care roles in underserved areas, Sebelius said.

Nicholas said the gap between health care providers and those in need continues to grow, especially in nursing — and that’s why federal and state government programs are funding grants such as this one.

“It will certainly be a boon to students and benefit the university,” he said. “It will attract a student audience and retain them.”

The university is planning to apply for funds from the same program next year, he said.

For more information about the scholarships, call 940-898-3615.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.