CHRISTUS Health is expanding a tuition-free cohort program in Louisiana to help strengthen the local healthcare workforce and create new opportunities for students who want to enter the field.
CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System launched its cohort program in August 2024 at Louisiana State University in Alexandria to support nursing students. That program has helped 28 Louisiana State students.
Starting this fall, the program will expand to serve nursing students at Northwestern State University's CENLA campus in Alexandria, respiratory therapy students at Louisiana State University Eunice and licensed practical nursing students at Central Louisiana Technical Community College. The program is expected to help 35 more students each year with these expansions.
The cohort program provides up to $25,000 in tuition coverage for selected students, which covers most or all of the tuition cost for the entirety of the program at each of the colleges or universities. Participants also receive specialized training and other resources to support them.
The money comes from the CHRISTUS Cabrini Foundation.
Upon graduation and licensure, students are also guaranteed employment at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System, which includes a flagship hospital in Alexandria and other services.
"We have a powerful opportunity to help strengthen and sustain our communities by continuing to invest in and grow a reliable healthcare workforce," Monte Wilson, CEO of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System, said in a press release. "We are proud to partner with these incredible schools to prepare the next generation of highly skilled caregivers while also removing the burden of paying for tuition."