STATE OF ILLINOIS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
1-800-899-ISAC
(800) 899-4722

http://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/illinois-and-federal-financial-aid-programs.html

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Illinois.

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

If you plan to become a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher and are of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin, you may qualify for up to $5,000 per year as part of the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program to pay for tuition, fees and room and board, or commuter allowances, if applicable. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters.

As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application’s Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note. By receiving this scholarship, you must teach in Illinois. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be a resident of Illinois
• Be a minority student of either African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin
• Be a high school graduate, or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Be enrolled on at least a half-time basis as an undergraduate or graduate student
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a qualified Illinois institution of higher education in a course of study which, upon completion, qualifies you to be certified as a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education, including alternative teacher certification
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
• Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
• Complete the application process by:

• submitting a fully-completed application for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (which includes the Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note),
• being certified as meeting eligibility requirements by the college at which you will use the scholarship, and
• accepting the scholarship (if one is offered)

Sign the application’s Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note promising to fulfill the teaching commitment or repay funds received plus interest

Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant

Not have previously received funds from the MTI Scholarship Program for the equivalent of four academic years, which is the program maximum

Not receive funds from the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) or Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the MTI Scholarship Program

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

If you plan to be a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher who wants to teach in Illinois you may be eligible for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program. This program is generally for academically talented and financially needy students who are enrolled as juniors or above, with a priority given to individuals pursuing a teacher shortage discipline and/or making a commitment to teach at a hard-to-staff school, and minority students. This award is designated for tuition, fees and room and board charges, or commuter allowance, if applicable. The annual scholarship awarded to a qualified applicant may be $5,000 or $10,000 (and in some cases, may be increased an additional $5,000) depending on the teaching commitment made. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of four semesters or six quarters.

As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application’s Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note. By receiving this scholarship, you must teach in Illinois. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be a resident of Illinois
• Be a high school graduate or person who has received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment as a junior or above, on at least a half-time basis in a Teacher Education Program at an eligible Illinois public or private college, seeking initial teacher certification; or be pursuing additional coursework needed to gain Illinois State Board of Education approval to teach, including alternative teacher certification
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
• Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
• Complete the application process by:

• submitting a fully-completed application for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (which includes the Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note),
• being certified as meeting eligibility requirements by the college at which you will use the scholarship, and
• accepting the scholarship (if one is offered)

Apply for federal student financial aid to determine your expected family contribution (ISAC recommends that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid prior to the time your college certifies your eligibility. Typically, ISAC makes Initial Certification Documents available to colleges beginning in the month of May that precedes the academic year for which you are requesting funds.)

Sign the application’s Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note promising to fulfill the teaching commitment or repay funds received, plus interest

Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant

Not have previously received funds from the IFTC Program for the equivalent of two academic years, which is the program maximum

Not receive funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship or Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the IFTC Program

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

If you are a teacher or an academically talented student pursuing a career in special education as a public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher in Illinois, you may be eligible for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program. This program will exempt you from paying tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution, for up to four calendar years.

By receiving the tuition waiver, you must teach in Illinois in the field of special education. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the amount of benefits received converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be an Illinois resident
• Meet one of the following conditions: you graduated (or are scheduled to graduate) from an approved high school in the academic year in which the award is made and you performed in the upper half of your graduating class according to performance-based academic data provided by the high school; or you graduated from an approved high school prior to the academic year in which the award is made and you do not hold a valid teaching certificate; or you hold a valid teaching certificate that is not in the discipline of special education
• Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at one of the eligible public four-year colleges in Illinois (providing the institution offers a concentration in Special Education) as an undergraduate or graduate student seeking initial certification in any area of special education
• Be enrolled in a program of special education within 10 days after the beginning of the term for which the waiver was initially awarded
• Not at any time have received cumulative Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver benefits that equal or exceed the program maximum of four academic years
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
• Remain in attendance at the college on a continuous basis for up to four years (unless granted an approved leave of absence)
• Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant
• Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
• Not receive funds from the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) or Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the Illinois SETTW Program.

In addition to eligibility requirements, applicants should also be aware of the rights and responsibilities for program recipients.

Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP)

The number of awards made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Nurses and academically talented students pursuing a career in professional or practical nursing education in Illinois may be eligible for the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program.

This program pays tuition and fees for approved graduate-level programs at eligible Illinois colleges for up to four calendar years (the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment). In addition, qualified applicants receive a stipend of up to $10,000 to cover the cost of attendance, including living expenses.

As part of the application process, applicants must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application’s Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note. Recipients must teach in Illinois in the field of nursing education. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the amount of proceeds received (including scholarship and stipend dollars) converts to a loan, and the entire amount plus interest and reasonable collection costs must be repaid.

Specific details, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, are provided at the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program page within the Student Zone’s Advanced Degree area.

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Illinois Scholars Program)

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Created in 1988 by the award-winning teachers of the Golden Apple Foundation, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program recruits and prepares bright and talented high school graduates who represent a rich ethnic diversity for successful teaching careers in high need schools throughout Illinois and provides scholarships to students pursuing teaching degrees.

The Golden Apple Foundation is a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago. The foundation promotes excellence in Pre-K through 12 education through the work of excellent teachers. Golden Apple Scholars receive mentoring support from outstanding, award-winning teachers who are part of the Golden Apple network.

Eligibility

Any Illinois high school student is eligible for consideration for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program. The Golden Apple Foundation makes and announces Golden Apple Scholar awards during the spring of each year.

A limited number of positions in the program are also open to college sophomores in attendance at one of the 53 Illinois colleges and universities that partner in the program. Candidates who are college sophomores must be nominated by the liaison of a participating university.

In exchange for successful completion of undergraduate college and a commitment to teach for five years in an Illinois school of need, Scholars receive financial assistance for four years to attend one of the 53 public and private universities across the state and take part in the summer programs that include teaching internships and enhanced teacher preparation.

General Assembly Scholarship

You might be able to pay for tuition with the General Assembly Scholarship if you are enrolled at an Illinois four-year, state-supported college and meet the eligibility criteria set by your legislative member.

Contact the General Assembly member from your district for more information. Applications are available from your state representative or the senator in your district. Contact the county election board if you are unsure of your district’s state representative or senator.

MIA/POW Scholarship

If you are the dependent of a person who was an Illinois resident at the time he/she entered active duty and has been declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as a result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense, you may be eligible to receive the MIA/POW Scholarship. This scholarship may be used at public colleges in Illinois, and is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Department of Rehabilitation Services Education Benefits

If you have a physical or mental disability, and have been approved for vocational training by the Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Department of Rehabilitation Services. You must demonstrate financial need, and assistance can be used at any accredited Illinois college or technical school.

Medical Student Scholarship Program

You may be eligible to receive paid tuition, paid mandatory fees and a monthly stipend of $950 through the Medical Student Scholarship Program. In order to be considered, you must be enrolled at an approved allopathic or osteopathic medical school in Illinois, and agree to work in an identified physician-shortage area in Illinois for one year for each year of assistance received through this program. You must also be an Illinois resident, demonstrate financial need, and be committed to primary care. The application deadline is May 15 for each upcoming academic year. This program is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program

If you are a student studying to be a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife, you may be eligible to receive $7,500 for up to two years. To qualify, you must fulfill an obligation to practice full time in a designated shortage area as an allied health-care professional in Illinois for one year for each year you receive scholarship funding. If you fail to fulfill the obligation requirements, you must repay the state three times the amount of the scholarship received for each unfulfilled year of obligation, plus seven-percent interest per year. This program is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Nursing Education Scholarship Program

If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associates degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be qualified to win the Nursing Education Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial aid anywhere from one to four years. If awarded, you must begin full- or part-time employment as a licensed practical or registered nurse in Illinois within six months of graduating, and remain employed for a period equivalent to the educational time supported by the scholarship. If you terminate studies, or fail to become employed, you will be required to repay the full scholarship amount, plus seven-percent interest per year.

The application cycle for this scholarship is from April 1 through May 31, prior to the beginning of the academic year for which you are requesting the scholarship.

Illinois Dollars for Scholars®

Dollars for Scholars is a national network of community-based scholarship foundations. A program of Scholarship America, the national program provides more than 45 years of experience and resources to the Illinois Dollars for Scholars region and its local chapter affiliates.

Every Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter offers financial support to students from one or more schools within its area. Individuals interested in applying for a scholarship should contact their local chapter’s officials, who will provide specific details regarding application requirements. A listing of chapters is provided at the Illinois Dollars for Scholars.

Fallen Heroes Scholarship

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is proud to offer Fallen Heroes Scholarships to the children of our state’s fallen service members.

Eligibility Requirements

• Child must be a U.S. citizen under the age of 30
• Fallen Hero’s home of record on file with the Department of Defense must be in Illinois
• A photocopy of a birth certificate, adoption certificate or marriage license must be provided and are typically available from county governments.

Scholarship Terms

• The state will deposit $2,500 in a Bright Start account for each child of a fallen Illinois service member who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom upon the request of a surviving family member. All Illinois active and reserve servicemen and women are eligible.

· The money will be invested in an age-based portfolio, which adjusts automatically as the beneficiary ages. The closer the child is to college-age, the more conservative the investments become.

· Payments will be made by the Treasurer’s Office directly to an accredited college or university anywhere in the U.S. or at select institutions abroad.

· The scholarship will be applied only to tuition, fees and room and board and must be spent before the child reaches age 30.

· Individuals other than the state can make tax-free contributions to the scholarship account, but the state retains control of account disbursement.

· The scholarship can be used in conjunction with other federal benefits that children of fallen service members are eligible to receive.

How do I apply?
You can download an application here.

Have questions?
Contact Bright Start Account Representative Deon Perryman at (217) 558-4983 or by email

MIA/POW Scholarship

If you are the dependent of a person who was an Illinois resident at the time he/she entered active duty and has been declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as a result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense, you may be eligible to receive the MIA/POW Scholarship. This scholarship may be used at public colleges in Illinois, and is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

For more information visit the Web site for the State of Illinois.

Podiatric Scholarship Program

Pursuant to Illinois Podiatric Scholarship and Residency Act
(110 ILCS 978)

What is the goal of this scholarship program?

To increase the number of podiatric physicians practicing in underserved areas of Illinois.

What method is used to reach this goal?

Scholarship awards are available to a limited number of eligible podiatric medicine students in Illinois. The award provides full tuition, matriculation fees and a living stipend. Scholarship recipients repay the awards by practicing as podiatric physicians in areas of the state determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (Department) to be designated shortage areas.

Who is eligible for a scholarship

To be eligible for a scholarship, the podiatric medicine student must be an Illinois resident at the time of application and must be accepted or enrolled in a school located in Illinois and accredited in its field. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and must apply to their school’s financial aid department on or before the school’s designated application deadline date. The school will be asked to attest to the applicant’s good academic standing and financial need.

In selecting award recipients, preference will be shown to applicants meeting the above criteria and demonstrating 1) previous experience with medically underserved populations; 2) financial need; and 3) commitment to practicing in a designated underserved area of Illinois.

How does the scholarship program work?

Scholarship applications will be provided through the financial aid offices of Illinois schools offering credentials for podiatric physicians. Completed applications must be received by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Center for Rural Health, no later than June 30. The Department may interview applicants as part of the selection process. Announcement of the students selected for awards is scheduled for September. Scholarship awards are sent directly to the recipient’s school. Recipients will be required to have verification of class enrollment forms completed by their schools prior to receiving payments. The recipients repay the awards by working as podiatric physicians in areas of Illinois that have been determined by the Department to be designated shortage areas.

What are the details concerning scholarship repayment?

Within 30 days after student’s licensure to practice or, if already licensed in Illinois, within 30 days of completion of residency training, the scholarship recipient shall begin to repay the award by practicing in an area in Illinois designated by the Department as having a shortage of primary care providers. The recipient must practice on a full-time basis, one year for each year scholarship funds were received. There is no other repayment obligation to the Department other than providing direct patient care in a designated shortage area. For evaluation and approval of practice locations, a scholarship recipient must contact the Department prior to entering into a formal agreement with an individual or facility. Practice locations will be approved up to 18 months prior to initiating the service repayment obligation.

Before receiving a scholarship, each applicant will enter into a binding contract with the state of Illinois to meet conditions of the scholarship. Failure to meet the terms of the contract will require the recipient to reimburse the state three times the total amount of the scholarship grant received for each unfulfilled year of the obligation.

What constitutes a designated shortage area?

A designated shortage area is a geographic area or a facility determined by the director of Public Health to be a physician shortage area, a medically underserved area or a health professional shortage area as defined by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, or as further defined by the Department. For purposes of this scholarship, shortage area designations will be the same as identified for the Illinois Medical Student Scholarship recipients.

What are the details concerning a practice site location?

The responsibility of securing a suitable practice site to fulfill the obligation lies with the scholarship recipient. Department staff will provide current lists of shortage areas to the recipient. The Department will consider new geographic locations for designation as shortage areas. The proposed locations may be submitted by scholarship recipients, schools, community hospitals, local physicians or community organizations. However, practice must begin within 30 days of licensure or completion of training.

If an applicant desires to practice in a particular city or county, serious consideration should be given to the importance of this preference before applying for this scholarship. Applicants will need to be flexible as designated shortage areas in the state change.

Deadline

Completed applications for scholarship assistance for the upcoming academic year must be received by the Center for Rural Health no later than June 30.

Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program

The number of awards made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Click on any of the following links to go directly to a specific topic:

Program Description
Eligibility
How to Apply (and Obtaining the Application)
How Funds Are Awarded and Disbursed
Processing Updates
Approved Illinois Institutions

In an effort to address the shortage of nurses and the lack of instructors to staff courses teaching nursing in Illinois, the Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program encourages longevity and career change opportunities. The program is intended to pay eligible loans to add an incentive to nurse educators in maintaining their teaching careers within the State of Illinois. The annual awards to qualified nurse educators may be up to $5,000 to repay their student loan debt, and may be received for up to a maximum of four years.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be an Illinois resident
• Have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan (includes Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, consolidation loans, nursing student loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans, and other types of government and institutional loans used for nursing education expenses)
• Be a nurse educator who meets licensing requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
• Have worked as a nurse educator instructing practical or professional nurses in an approved Illinois institution for at least the past 12 consecutive months prior to the date of each application for this program
• Not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

How to Apply

Each year you wish to apply for this program, you must submit a Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Application to ISAC. You may download and print an application here . Applications are also available at all Illinois approved institutions that havepractical or professional nursing programs, and at ISAC’s Deerfield, Springfield and Chicago offices. You must submit your application to ISAC’s Deerfield office as indicated on the application.

If your application is incomplete, ISAC will notify you and you will have the opportunity to furnish missing information. Your application will be considered for processing as of the date it is complete and all required information has been received at ISAC’s Deerfield office.

Renewal applicants must submit an application each year, and may also be required to submit a history of prior awards in order to demonstrate that program proceeds were used for eligible educational loans.

How Funds Are Awarded and Disbursed

Recipients are selected from among qualified new applicants, as well as those who file timely renewal applications. The total number of awards each year is contingent upon available funding. If funding in any given year is insufficient to pay all eligible applicants, awarding will be based on the date the complete application (with all required documentation) is received at ISAC’s Deerfield office.

Award amounts are based on the applicant’s remaining balance on eligible education loans, not to exceed ,000 per year. Proceeds will be remitted directly to the holder/servicer/lender of the loan(s) to be repaid.

Processing Updates

Note that ISAC routinely updates this section as new information becomes available. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status .

Click here to download the Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program application .

Approved Illinois Institutions

In order to qualify for this program, an applicant must have worked as a nurse educator instructing practical or professional nurses in an approved Illinois institution for at least the past 12 consecutive months prior to the date of each application.

Veterans’ Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program

The number of awards made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

You may either scroll through this page, or click on any of the following links to go directly to a specific topic:

• Program Description
• Eligibility
• How to Apply (and Obtaining the Application)
• How Funds Are Awarded and Disbursed
• Processing Updates

The Veterans’ Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program provides for the payment of eligible educational loans as an incentive for nurses to pursue and continue their careers at State of Illinois veterans’ homes. The annual award to qualified registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses may be up to ,000 to repay their student loan debt. This award may be received for up to a maximum of four years.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Be an Illinois resident
• Have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan (includes Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, consolidation loans, nursing student loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans, and other types of government and institutional loans used for nursing education expenses)
• Be a nurse who meets licensing requirements of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
• Be a nurse who has completed the prescribed employment probationary period and whose employment is in good standing as determined by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• For each year during which an award is received, fulfill a separate 12 month period as a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse in an approved State of Illinois veterans’ home (approved veterans’ homes for purposes of this program are located in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy, Illinois)
• Not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

How to Apply

Each year you wish to apply for this program, you must submit a Veterans’ Home Nurse Loan Repayment Application to ISAC. You may download and print an application here . Applications are also available at all State of Illinois veterans’ homes and at ISAC’s Deerfield, Springfield and Chicago offices. You must submit your application to ISAC’s Deerfield office as indicated on the application.

If your application is incomplete, ISAC will notify you and you will have the opportunity to furnish missing information. Your application will be considered for processing as of the date it is complete and all required information has been received at ISAC’s Deerfield office.

Renewal applicants must submit an application each year, and may also be required to submit a history of prior awards in order to demonstrate that program proceeds were used for eligible educational loans.

How Funds Are Awarded and Disbursed

Recipients are selected from among qualified new applicants, as well as those who file timely renewal applications. The total number of awards each year is contingent upon available funding. If funding in any given year is insufficient to pay all eligible applicants, awarding will be based on the date the complete application (with all required documentation) is received at ISAC’s Deerfield office. Preference may be given to renewal applicants provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements.

The award amount is based on the applicant’s remaining balance on eligible education loans, not to exceed ,000 per year. Proceeds will be remitted in multiple disbursements directly to the holder of the loan(s) to be repaid.

The Nurse Educator Fellowship Program

The purpose of the Nurse Educator Fellowship Program is to ensure the retention of well-qualified nursing faculty at institutions of higher learning that award degrees in nursing. Awards will be used to supplement the salaries of the nursing faculty selected for the Fellowship. Participation in this program is open to Illinois institutions of higher learning with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Nominations must be certified by the institution’s Chief Nursing Administrator.

Nurse educator fellowship program. In order to ensure the retention of well qualified nursing faculty, the Board shall establish and administer a nurse educator fellowship program that supplements nursing faculty salaries at institutions of higher learning that award degrees in nursing. Fellowships awarded under the program may be awarded on a competitive basis. The Board shall adopt those rules that are necessary for the implementation and administration of the fellowship program established under this Section.