Aug. 1, 2025 SHARE: Houston, Texas, July 31, 2025 – The Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing (DSON) at Houston Christian University has been awarded a $150,000 grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) through the Nursing, Allied Health, and Other Health-Related Education 2025 -2027 Grant Program. The grant will help the nursing school implement an Individual Simulation Competency Evaluation Program to address the shortage of RNs and qualified faculty through an innovative approach to nursing education, recruitment and retention. “The timing of the new building and receiving this grant align to truly help us grow the nursing simulation program that will be afforded with the completion of the Smith Building. It will also help us to continue to train, retain and graduate excellent nurses to enter the workforce,” said Dr. Carol Lavender, Dean of the Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing. The program, led by Dr. Lavender, builds on an earlier pilot initiative to create a realistic, research-backed way to check nursing students’ skills at the start of their senior year. By doing this early, schools can create personalized plans to help each student strengthen any weak areas during their final year. The goal is to keep students on track to graduate and succeed in their nursing careers. With the support of grant funding, the innovative initiative will launch with a pilot group of at-risk and on-track nursing students in Fall 2025, with full implementation in Spring 2026 to align with expected enrollment growth with the opening of the Smith Engineering, Science, and Nursing Building for the 2026–2027 academic year. The grant enables select faculty to receive continuing education and certification for simulation assessment, stipends for full-time and adjunct faculty training, and covers project-specific equipment and supplies. The overall objective of this grant-funded project is to address the growing nursing shortage by improving retention and on-time graduation rates while maintaining robust first-time NCLEX pass rates (97 percent) for nursing students at HCU. Ashley Mills, Assistant Professor of Nursing called it an honor to receive the THECB grant which will enhance the preparation of nursing students as they transition into the healthcare workforce. “Through this funding, we will implement an individualized simulation program that allows us to work closely with each student, strengthening their clinical knowledge, critical thinking, hands-on skills, teamwork, and communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams. This opportunity will help ensure our graduates are truly practice-ready and confident in their ability to provide high-quality, compassionate care,” shared Mills. With implementation of this program, the Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing will continue to work to receive accreditation as a simulation center and to partner with a practice site to improve registered nurse readiness. If successful, the hope is to see this program replicated statewide to address the nursing shortage. The grant funding period extends through December 31, 2027. # # # About Houston Christian University For more than 60 years, Houston Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of majors, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan centers, HCU’s culture of excellence molds the next generation of educated disciples to be pillars in their communities, preparing them to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.
