ReNEW Fund
Reinvesting in Nursing Education and Workforce
About the Fund
Health systems across the country face increased turnover and elevated staffing costs. Meanwhile, many aspiring nurses cannot afford to enter the profession. aims to address these challenges by helping thousands of historically underserved students earn BSN degrees. By partnering with priority employers, the Fund will grant employers direct access to this diverse and steady pipeline of new nurses.
How Does It Work?
- The Fund helps to cover last-mile training costs for prelicensure nursing students,Ìýincluding the costs of in-person labs and clinical placements.
- Employers are introduced to nursing students before graduation, and graduates are incentivized to work with partner employers to avoid individual payment obligations.
- Employers hire graduates for full-time nursing roles, paying a fee to the Fund for each hire.
- Employers engage nurses for three years and beyond, paying to the Fund at key retention milestones over the first three years.
- The Fund uses employer payments to train more nurses, helping more people achieve their dreams and growing the nursing talent pipeline.
ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ Leavitt School of Health
Preparing Nurses
for Success
ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is the largest nursing training provider in the U.S. Over the last five years, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ has had aÌýfirst-time NCLEX-RN average pass rateÌýofÌý89.21%, which is above the national five-year average of all BSN programs.
Building a More
Diverse Pipeline
ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s flexible, hybrid program enables students to earn a BSN degree on their own schedule. Through the Fund, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ anticipates supporting a student body that is 37% Black and 16% Hispanic, far more diverse than the national average for BSN-trained nurses.
Addressing Critical
Talent Shortages
In 2021, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ produced 17% of the nation’s registered nurses earning a BSN. With support from the Fund, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ aims to expand its offerings to prepare thousands more nursing graduates—helping employers fill critical roles and improving patient care at scale.
Example Fund Scenarios
Student 1
Student 1 earns a BSN with Fund support and joins Employer A, staying for 3 years. Employer A makes one payment at hiring and three retention payments at the end of each full year. After three years, Employer A and Student 1 have completed their obligation to the Fund.
Student 2
Student 2 earns a BSN with Fund support and joins Employer B, staying for one and a half years. Employer B makes one paymentÌýat hiring, one retention payment at the end of year one, and one pro-rated retention payment after separation from Employer B. After leaving Employer B, Student 2 is required to individually repay the remainder of their loan to the Fund.
Student 3
Student 3 earns a BSN with Fund support and joins Employer C.ÌýSince Employer C is not affiliated with the Fund, Student 3 individually repays the Fund and has no fund-related financial incentive to stay with Employer C.
Why Become an Employer or Philanthropic Partner?
Meet Nursing Students Before They Graduate
Partner employers can begin recruiting thousands of nursing students while they are still in school.
Increase Retention
Leaving a partner employer means a nurse will become responsible for their own payments, incentivizing talent retention.
Be Protected
Employers only make full payments if a nurse reaches retention milestones.
Achieve Diversity Goals
Employers access a group of nursing graduates more diverse than the national average for BSN-trained nurses.
Strengthen the Pipeline of Qualified Nurses
Unlike with staffing agencies, employer hiring and retention payments go back into the system to help train more nurses.
Advance Health Equity
By developing a larger and more diverse nursing workforce, employers can improve quality of care and help reduce health disparities.
Questions?
Submit your contact information in the form below or emailÌýrenew@wgu.edu to learn more. We look forward to addressing your needs for a more diverse nursing talent pipeline.
Bob Collins
Senior Advisor, Office of the President & Vice President, Talent Finance
Western Governors University
Sara Wingfield
Senior Director,ÌýHealthcare Partnerships
Western Governors University
Justin Bakule
Vice President, Impact Investments
Social Finance
Brandon Zollner
Executive Director of Development
Western Governors University
ReNEW - ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ & Social Finance Initiative
Please fill out the form below if you would like to be contacted regarding the Reinvesting in Nursing Education and Workforce (ReNEW) initiative. We look forward to hearing from you!
Accredited, Respected,
¸é±ð³¦´Ç²µ²Ô¾±³ú±ð»åâ„¢
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
BACHELOR'S WITH LICENSURE
Special Education and Elementary Education (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – B.S.
Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
_____
MASTER'S WITH LICENSURE
Teaching, Elementary Education – M.A.
Teaching, English Education (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Mathematics (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Teaching, Mathematics (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Science (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Special Education (K-12) – M.A.
_____
GRADUATE DEGREES FOR LICENSED TEACHERS
Educational Leadership – M.S.
English Language Learning (PreK-12) Endorsement Preparation
Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – M.A.
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
_____
Other Education Programs
Educational Studies – B.A.
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Information Technology – B.S.
Network Engineering and Security – B.S.
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
Health Information ManagementÌý– B.S.Ìý(from the Leavitt School of Health)
Information Technology ManagementÌý– B.S. Business AdministrationÌý(from the School of Business)
User Experience Design – B.S.Ìý(from the School of Business)
____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Information Technology Management – M.S.
MBA Information Technology ManagementÌý(from the School of Business)
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Accounting – B.S. Business Administration
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Healthcare Administration – B.S.
Human Resource Management – B.S. Business Administration
Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration
Supply Chain and Operations Management – B.S.
User Experience Design – B.S.
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's DegreeÌý(from the School of Technology)
Health Information ManagementÌý– B.S.Ìý(from the Leavitt School of Health)
_____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Human Resource Management – M.S.
Management and Leadership – M.S.
Master of Business Administration
MBA Information Technology Management
Master of Healthcare AdministrationÌý(from the Leavitt School of Health)
Data AnalyticsÌý– M.S.Ìý(from the School of Technology)
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
NursingÌý(RN to BSN online) – B.S.
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S. (Available in select states)
Health Information Management – B.S.
Health and Human Services – B.S.
Healthcare Administration – B.S.Ìý(from the School of Business)
____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Nursing – EducationÌý(BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – M.S.Ìý(Available in select states)
Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – M.S.Ìý(Available in select states)
Nursing – Education (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Nursing – Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Master of Healthcare Administration
MBA Healthcare ManagementÌý(from the School of Business)
____
CERTIFICATES
Nursing – Education, Post-Master's Certificate
Nursing – Leadership and Management, Post-Master's Certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner— Post-Master's Certificate
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner— Post-Master's Certificate