More Front Line Workers Will Soon Be Trained in Toppenish

A lot more future nurses will be graduating from Heritage University in Toppenish in the future. The University has announced a $3 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions branch to expand its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program The funding will also be used for upgrades to campus science laboratories.

The money will help those already working in the nursing field

School officials say the money will actually create a new pathway for working registered nurses to go back to school and earn their four-year degree in nursing.  Heritage University Associate Professor Melvin Simoyi, Ph.D. says "As hospitals and other healthcare institutions start requiring their nurses to earn a bachelor’s as a condition for employment, this grant will allow Heritage to help the local community and beyond meet a dire need for healthcare professionals, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities locally and globally."

Campus labs will major upgrades

A press release from the school says "In addition to the RN to BSN degree pathway development, Heritage University’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) offerings will expand with new laboratories for environmental, health and physical sciences. The existing biology, chemistry and physics laboratories at Heritage will be redesigned and equipped to meet the rigorous demands for effective STEM degree programs instruction."

The Toppenish school has received a lot of federal help this year

The $3 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education is the second large grant the school has announced this year. Earlier this month, Heritage received a $4.5 million grant, also from the Dept. of Education, to expand STEM studies in the Yakima Valley.