JERSEY CITY, N.J. – September 25, 2026 – Saint Peter’s University has been awarded a $2 million federal Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) grant from the Human Resources and Services Administration to expand the pipeline of nursing students, strengthen student support and retention, and help prepare more graduates to enter the nursing workforce.
The initiative, entitled “Taking Flight: SPU Peacocks Expand the Nursing Workforce,” will provide financial, academic, and professional support to students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) while strengthening the University’s capacity to recruit, educate, and retain future nurses. Dr. Clare Rovito will serve as Project Director.
Dr. Christina Mortellaro, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, notes, “For many of our students, the obstacles to finishing a nursing degree are practical ones: the cost of course materials supplies, getting to clinical sites, or needing extra support in demanding courses. This grant allows us to address those challenges directly. It gives students financial support and a dedicated advisor who connects with them from their first semester. It also provides peer tutors in the courses where students most often struggle, and mentors who help them build confidence and a sense of belonging in the profession. This is cura personalis put into practice. By caring for our students in this way, we prepare them to offer that same compassionate care to patients and communities throughout Hudson County and beyond.”
A key component of the initiative will be expanding access to nursing education. Eligible BSN students will have access to scholarships and clinical practice stipends designed to help defray the costs associated with clinical experiences, supplies, transportation, and other education-related expenses. The University will also expand outreach to prospective students through summer “Peacock Introduction to Nursing” workshops, “Nursing Student for a Day” shadowing experiences, social media outreach, and an accelerated dual enrollment pathway into the BSN program.
Once students enter the program, the initiative will provide enhanced resources designed to support their academic progress and help them successfully complete their nursing education. A dedicated Nursing Academic Advisor will provide close, individualized advising and early intervention, while a new Nursing Student Success Mentorship Program will connect students with faculty and peer mentors. Students will also have access to peer tutoring in Nursing Fundamentals, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology, along with enrichment workshops focused on academic success, financial literacy, career exploration, and mental health and wellness.
“Preparing the next generation of nurses requires more than recruiting students into nursing programs,” said Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D., President of Saint Peter’s University. “It requires creating the academic, financial and personal support systems that help students succeed from their first day on campus through graduation and into their careers. This grant will allow Saint Peter’s to strengthen that entire pathway while expanding opportunities for students who are preparing to serve their communities as nurses.”
The grant will also strengthen the University’s BSN program by supporting professional development, mentoring and retention strategies for full-time and adjunct nursing faculty. These investments will enhance the learning environment for students while supporting the faculty members who educate and mentor future nurses.
Through “Taking Flight,” Saint Peter’s will build a stronger and more comprehensive nursing education pipeline—from outreach and recruitment to academic support, clinical preparation, graduation and entry into the workforce. The initiative reflects the University’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity while preparing graduates to meet critical workforce needs and serve others in the Jesuit tradition.