UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State World Campus is expanding its scholarship program that helps students navigate their first year of learning online with a new version for nurses working toward their bachelor’s degrees.
Smart Track to Success was developed for incoming World Campus students with few or no previous college credits. If they accept an invitation to participate in the program, they will take a course to learn about academic resources and life skills to smooth their transition as an online learner and build their confidence to continue their studies past the first year. Participants also receive a scholarship.
A new version, Smart Track to Nursing Success, has been created for nurses who are pursuing their bachelor’s degree. It began in the fall semester.
“The Smart Track to Success program has helped hundreds of people who take the leap and go to college for the first time make the transition to be a successful college student,” said Renata Engel, vice provost for Online Education at Penn State. “We are excited to expand the program for the first time to focus on nursing students — specifically RNs who are pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Through this program, we hope to remove barriers and smooth the transitions as these learners advance their education and support their career goals.”
Smart Track to Nursing Success is an invitation-only scholarship program available to students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) online through World Campus. The nursing bachelor’s degree program is offered online by the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing.
Scholarship programs that help students be successful
Penn State World Campus developed Smart Track to Nursing Success because of the success in the original program, which opened in 2017.
The original Smart Track to Success program was designed to address the challenges that lead students to step away from school in their first or second semesters, such as adjusting to academic demands or the cost. It requires students to take a noncredit course as part of their course load each of the first two semesters. The course focuses on academic skills, such as writing, in the first semester, and in the second one, it focuses on life skills, networking and getting involved as an online learner at Penn State.
Students receive a $1,500 scholarship each semester.
The faculty and staff in the Nese College of Nursing worked with World Campus staff to tailor Smart Track to Nursing Success to meet the specific needs of nurses pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
These students are registered nurses (RNs), who will have already had post-secondary education experience from when they acquired their nursing license. However, some aspects of college may be challenging to them, such as the academic writing and research that are common in the first courses in the RN to BSN degree program.
As a result, the nursing version has a narrower focus compared to the original program and requires one semester of participation.
“While RNs have already been to college, we know they can use the extra resources to make the transition back to school as smooth as possible,” said Mary Alyce Nelson, an associate teaching professor and director of the Nese College’s online undergraduate nursing programs. “Smart Track to Success aims to provide that, and we hope this program helps our new RN to BSN students thrive in their first semester.”
The nursing version is open to all students who start the RN to BSN degree program through World Campus.
Students who are invited to participate can accept or decline. Only students who participate receive scholarship funding.
The impact of Smart Track on students’ success
More than 700 students have participated in the original Smart Track to Success program. The first participants to complete their degrees graduated in 2021. In addition, World Campus data suggest that participants in Smart Track are likely to continue their studies past their first semester.
“By expanding the Smart Track to Success program to include nursing students, we are reaffirming our commitment to support every learner’s journey,” Engel said. “We believe that with the right resources and guidance, our nursing students will not only succeed but thrive in their academic pursuits and in their nursing careers.”
Philanthropic support
Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years, and it has more than 40 scholarships that provide financial support to its students. The scholarships have been created from philanthropic and institutional support.
Donors have generously endowed 12 scholarships for the Smart Track to Success program, and more than 330 students have received one of these scholarships. Among the endowed scholarships is the Charles E. and Carol E. Snyder World Campus Alumni Society Open Doors Scholarship. Named in honor of longtime alumni society leader and her husband, this fund allows alumni and friends to direct one-time or annual contributions and collectively support World Campus students with critical scholarship support.
With the expansion of Smart Track to Success to support nursing students, the scholarship program continues to be a fundraising focus for World Campus.
Gifts to Smart Track to Success scholarships advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.