CHANGES MADE TO NURSING LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM

 HARRISBURG, SEPT. 3 – Pennsylvania continues to face a serious nursing shortage and, according to state Sen. Connie Williams, the state is mounting a new attack by making an important change to its nursing loan forgiveness program.

 “Nurses are an integral part of Pennsylvania’s health-care system,” Williams said. “Without nurses, the level of care is diminished. Pennsylvania’s nursing loan forgiveness program is helping to address this shortage.”

 The Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures program is a self-funded program that provides eligible applicants loan forgiveness of up to 25 percent or $12,500 of their eligible student loan debt over three years of qualifying employment.

 Recently, it was announced that qualifying Stafford loans that have been consolidated will now be eligible for forgiveness. Additionally, the application deadline was extended from Aug. 1^st to Oct. 31^st, for any student who graduates in 2004.

 Students scheduled to graduate in December 2004, must still apply by the Oct. 31^st deadline to be considered for the program.

 To qualify, students must graduate from an approved nursing education program during or after 2004. They must also have at least one outstanding AES/PHEAA owned, guaranteed and serviced federal Stafford loan or AES/PHEAA guaranteed and serviced consolidation loan based on qualifying underlying Stafford loans. The loans must be in good standing.

 Participants must maintain employer-verified, full-time continuous employment with a participating employer as a direct care nurse, nurse educator, at an approved, participating Pennsylvania health-care facility or an approved, participating Pennsylvania postsecondary educational institution for a minimum of one year.

 For more information or an online application visit the program Web site at www.futuresinnursing.org, or call 800-859-5442.