Senate Bill 297 would create a new Nursing Fellows Program at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) to provide forgivable loans to selected nursing students. The program is aimed at students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and, for those who want to become nursing instructors, a Master of Science in Nursing Education. The stated purpose is to recruit, prepare, and support students who are likely to become nurses in North Carolina or instructors in qualifying nursing programs.
The bill sets up a dedicated Nursing Fellows Program Trust Fund administered by the State Education Assistance Authority in coordination with WSSU’s School of Health Sciences. It authorizes the dean to set selection criteria, choose recipients, and oversee recruitment, while the Authority handles administration, rulemaking, loan servicing, and collection. The bill also requires annual reporting to legislative oversight committees on recipient demographics, placement and repayment outcomes, mentoring support, and employer-related outcomes such as turnover and fulfillment rates.
The forgivable loans could cover tuition, fees, books, and related expenses, with awards of up to $5,000 per semester or $2,500 per summer session. Loan forgiveness would occur in stages based on service: recipients who remain employed as qualifying nurses or nurse instructors in North Carolina would have one-third of the loan forgiven for each year of qualifying service, while repayment would be required if the recipient leaves the program or does not meet standards. The bill also allows forgiveness in cases of death or permanent disability and sets repayment timelines and interest terms for loans that are not forgiven.
In addition to the loan program, the bill appropriates recurring state funds to support curriculum-related mentoring and coaching for WSSU nursing students. It provides $1.4 million in recurring funds to establish the Nursing Fellows Program and an additional $100,000 in recurring funds for curriculum support services at WSSU. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, with applications beginning for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included, there is no documented public debate or formal sentiment in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears broadly supportive of nursing workforce development and WSSU’s nursing pipeline, with the main policy emphasis on recruiting and retaining nurses and nurse educators in North Carolina.
The bill would amend Chapter 116 of the General Statutes to create a new statutory Nursing Fellows Program specifically tied to Winston-Salem State University and administered by the State Education Assistance Authority. It would also expand the Authority’s collection powers to include repayment enforcement for Nursing Fellows loans, establish a new trust fund, and create reporting obligations to the General Assembly. Separately, it would appropriate recurring General Fund dollars for both the forgivable-loan program and additional curriculum support services at WSSU, directly affecting state higher-education funding and nursing workforce pipeline policy.
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment to summarize from debate or roll call. From the bill’s structure and findings, the measure is framed positively as a workforce-development and student-support initiative, with a clear focus on addressing nursing shortages and strengthening nursing education in North Carolina. The available materials suggest support-oriented intent rather than controversy, though the absence of transcripts means any opposition or concerns are not captured here.
The bill text itself does not show explicit opposition, but potential points of contention include the use of recurring General Fund appropriations, the bill’s focus on a single university, and the administrative discretion given to the WSSU dean in selecting recipients and setting criteria. Another possible issue is the program’s service-forgiveness structure, which requires recipients to work in-state or repay the loans, and the bill’s detailed reporting and performance metrics, which may reflect concern about accountability and outcomes. No specific individuals or groups are identified in the provided record as opposing or supporting these provisions.