Bloomington is emerging as a central location in Indiana’s response to the nursing shortage, driven by new investments to increase the number of nurses and improve healthcare access statewide.

A transformational gift from Connie and Steve Ferguson, announced by Indiana University Health (IU Health) and Indiana University Health Foundation, will expand nursing education at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington. Along with IU Health’s $10 million investment, this funding aims to grow training capacity and strengthen Indiana’s nursing pipeline.

With Indiana facing a shortage of about 4,300 nurses, expanding educational pathways is crucial to meeting statewide healthcare needs.

How Indiana Is Expanding Its Nursing Workforce

The investment will support increased enrollment and clinical training at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, expand evening and weekend programs, support faculty, and provide scholarships for students committing to post-graduation work with IU Health in southern Indiana.

Expanding Capacity Beyond Traditional Hours

This investment builds on an existing Ivy Tech Bloomington model and strengthens the partnership with IU Health. Evening and weekend programs already show that nursing education can reach beyond traditional hours.

Expanding classroom and clinical hours enables more students to enroll and complete training, maximizing the use of facilities and resources. This approach not only increases the number of nurses trained but also broadens clinical opportunities across the IU Health South Region.

“We are proud to support IU Health and Ivy Tech’s partnership,” said Connie and Steve Ferguson. “Expanding evening and weekend classes increases the nursing pipeline statewide and helps more students become caregivers in our communities.”

For working adults, career changers, and students balancing family responsibilities, expanded scheduling presents a way to remove key barriers to entering the profession.

Two Endowments Support Education and Retention

To achieve these objectives, the combined philanthropic and health system investment establishes two endowed funds:

Connie & Steve Ferguson Nursing Expansion Endowment

At Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus, this endowment supports the Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing’s evening cohort, funding faculty salaries, professional development, and upgraded facilities and clinical training in southern Indiana.

South Region Nursing Scholarship Endowment

The South Region Nursing Scholarship Endowment, established with combined philanthropic and IU Health funds, supports the IU Health Nursing Scholar Program. This endowment offers scholarships to students who commit to work at IU Health after graduation and also provides continuing education and credentialing support for current nurses in the IU Health South Region.

“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, and this commitment will help ensure a skilled workforce is here to care for our southern Indiana communities and visitors for generations to come,” said Denzil Ross, president of IU Health’s South Region. “By expanding capacity and increasing training opportunities for students, this commitment is aimed at improving educational pathways for nursing professionals and enabling more effective care for Hoosiers.”

Building on Previous Investment

This announcement builds on earlier infrastructure expansion. For example, in 2022, IU Health awarded Ivy Tech an $8.75 million grant to grow nursing programs statewide. This enabled the Marchant School of Nursing in Bloomington to add a new skills lab and classroom, nearly double the number of training beds, and bring in advanced technology for hands-on experience.

Ivy Tech is the nation’s leading educator of associate-level nurses. Approximately 90 percent of its graduates remain in Indiana to live and work, strengthening the state’s workforce pipeline.

“This investment fundamentally expands what is possible for our students and our region,” said Erik Coyne, chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington. “Through our partnership with IU Health and the vision of Connie and Steve Ferguson, Ivy Tech Bloomington is well-positioned to help address one of Indiana’s most pressing workforce challenges.”