The College of Nursing at UMass Dartmouth has received nearly $300-thousand from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

University spokesman John Hoey says the money will be used to encourage more minority students to consider nursing as a future career.

"This is an effort designed by our College of Nursing," said Hoey, "to diversify the nursing workforce in the region beginning with a pilot program in New Bedford."

Hoey says the College of Nursing will be working with the "Upward Bound" program to set up a "School to Career" summer employment program by the summer of 2017, encouraging middle and high school students to consider nursing as a career.

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