Vision to Reality: Implementation of the Plan

Implementation, under the requirements of the grant, began immediately. A search for a minority nurse to coordinate the administrative, technical, and educational aspects of the grant was launched. Advertising for program participants was initiated. Existing School of Nursing staff began program implementation. A Diversity Coordinator was hired 10 months into the first grant year, but resigned after only four months. The current Diversity Coordinator was hired in the 18th month of funding.

National exposure was achieved by advertisements placed on websites, and literature advertising both the coordinator position and the grant program itself were distributed at national nursing and minority nursing organizations. All applications were screened to insure that eligibility requirements were met. Nineteen qualified minority nurse educators were invited to participate in the program. These consisted of minority nurse educators with a minimum of a master's degree in nursing and at least two years teaching experience (not necessarily online). Participants were enrolled in a 32 week Certificate in Distance Education Program (CDEP), then assigned to teach a 12 week online baccalaureate nursing course at Thomas Edison State College, under the guidance of an experienced online nurse educator. Participants were asked to select their desired course based on prior teaching experience and also the desired term in which to teach the online class.