Frequently Asked Questions
PURPOSE
Increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing funding to
accredited schools of nursing to offer loans to students in advanced education nursing degree programs who are committed to become nurse faculty
ELIGIBILITY
- Enrolled full-time or part-time in an advanced education nursing degree program as follows:
- PhD in Nursing, Master of Nursing (Nurse Educator Track), or Post-Master’s General DNP student
- Must be enrolled for a minimum of 2 semester credits per semester.
- Leaves of absence must be approved and on file with the university if you are not enrolled in a regularly scheduled semester. Failure to do so will result in a separation from the program and immediate repayment obligation.
- In good academic standing (as determined by WSU criteria).
- New Post Master’s DNP General and MN (Nurse Educator Track) students need evidence of prior teaching.
- PhD Students: Priority given to those with evidence of prior teaching.
- Must have financial need not currently met by other sources.
- A citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a foreign national having in their possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.
- Students are ineligible to receive an NFLP loan if a judgment lien has been entered against the debtor’s property for a debt to the United States.
- Priority is for students who have received prior Nurse Faculty Loan Program funding.
MAXIMUM AMOUNT/DURATION
Depending on funding available, you may borrow up to $40,000 per academic year.
LOAN CANCELLATION PROCESS
- Up to 85% of the NFLP loan amount can be forgiven if the graduate becomes a full-time faculty for up to 4 consecutive years starting within 12-months after graduation:
- 20% of principal and interest on the amount of the unpaid loan balance upon completion of each of the first, second, and third year of full-time faculty employment.
- 25% of the principal and the interest on the amount of the unpaid loan balance upon completion of the fourth year of full-time faculty employment.
FACULTY DEFINED
For NFLP graduates, “Full-time” nurse faculty employment is designated by WSU. Full-time employment status may include:
- Employment as a full-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing
- Employment as a part-time faculty member at an accredited school of nursing in combination with another part-time faculty position or part-time clinical preceptor/educator position affiliated with an accredited school of nursing that together equates to full-time employment
- Designation of nurse faculty in a joint nurse faculty appointment serving as full-time advanced practice registered nurse preceptor for an accredited school of nursing, within an academic-practice partnership framework
COURSES REQUIRED
Nursing education certificate courses are required as an NFLP recipient (NURS 523, 521, 533, & 585). Recipients prior to 2021 will follow their listed requirements. There may be an option to waive or take a practicum to fulfill those courses for those who already have a nursing education certificate or have taken nursing education courses prior to their program. To inquire about course requirement waivers or substitutions, make an appointment with the NFLP Program Director.
PAYMENT OF LOANS
NFLP loan shall be repayable in equal or graduated periodic installments (with the right of the borrower to accelerate repayment) over the 10-year period that begins 9 months after the individual ceases to pursue a course of study at a school of nursing.
WSU oversees and monitors loans for students. The actual loan will be disbursed to you as a student by a financial institution, which will collect payments according to the requirements.
Loans from any NFLP student loan fund shall—beginning on the date that is three months after the individual ceases to pursue a course of study at a school of nursing—bear interest on the unpaid balance of the loan at the rate of 3% per annum.
**If the borrower does not complete the course of study that includes the nursing education courses requirement, or fails to obtain full-time faculty employment within 12 months post-graduation, the loan shall bear interest on the unpaid balance of the loan at the prevailing market rate. In addition, if you withdraw from WSU College of Nursing and/or WSU Graduate School before completion of your graduate program or certificate, repayment will begin immediately at the market rate, regardless of current faculty status.
The prevailing market rate is determined by the Treasury Department and is published quarterly in the Federal Register.
DEFERMENT
- Loans can be deferred up to a period of 3-years in these cases:
- If borrower is ordered to active duty as a member of a uniformed service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps). [A borrower who voluntarily joins a uniformed service is NOT eligible for deferment, nor is a borrower who is employed by one of the uniformed services in a civilian capacity.]
- Service as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act
- Periods (up to ten years) during which the borrower is pursuing a full-time or half-time course of study at a collegiate school of nursing leading to a graduate degree in nursing or is otherwise pursuing advanced professional training in Nursing (e.g. post-doctoral program/fellowship)
POST-GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
You must inform the WSU Bursar’s Office (bursar.office@wsu.edu) about:
- Your current email address and telephone numbers until all loans are forgiven.
- Employment Status: any changes in employment status that affect the cancellation determination such as:
- Leave During Employment (paid or unpaid leave needs to be consistent with the WSU’s policy.)
- Change in Employment. A reasonable period, as determined by WSU Financial Aid, to change from one place of employment to another may not constitute a break in employment.
- Termination of full-time employment as faculty.
- Other service obligations from other federal programs for education support. These must remain separate and distinct from the service obligation for NFLP loan cancellation.
- In the event of death WSU may cancel all or any remaining payment of NFLP recipient.
SURVEY REQUIREMENTS
You will be required to meet with the NFLP Director following graduation and yearly thereafter until the post-graduation nurse-faculty employment commitment has been fulfilled. Please send any changes in email addresses/employment to WSU College of Nursing NFLP Project Director; angela.brittain@wsu.edu and state that you were an NFLP recipient.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Dr. Angela Brittain, WSU College of Nursing NFLP Project Director at angela.brittain@wsu.edu.
