FY27 Nurse Educator Fellowship Program

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is offering the FY27 Nurse Educator Fellowship Program, a competitive grant that provides salary‑supplement awards to full‑time nursing faculty at eligible Illinois higher‑education institutions. Awards range from $10,000 to $25,000 and are intended to support professional development, conference travel, tuition, dues, and related expenses. Up to 40 fellowships will be awarded, with each institution limited to three nominees per fiscal year. Nominations must be certified by the institution’s chief nursing administrator and meet residency, education, and employment criteria. Recipients must remain employed for at least six months after award notification and repay the award if they leave within six months. • Eligible applicants: Illinois public higher‑education institutions with CCNE or ACEN‑accredited RN programs. • Eligible fellows: Illinois‑resident nursing faculty with at least a master’s degree, ≥0.5 FTE, ≥12 months of teaching experience, and no fellowship received in the prior year. • Funding: Salary supplement (max $25,000) for professional development, conference travel, tuition, dues, etc. • Award ceiling/floor: $25,000 / $10,000 per fellow; total program funding $800,000. • Matching: Institutional cash or in‑kind match required. • Application: One‑time submission; multiple applications per institution allowed (up to three nominees). • Reporting: Financial report due within 30 days of payment; employment verification required for six months. • Selection criteria include strength of nomination, tenure status, personal statement, resume, proposed budget, geographic and equity considerations.