More than 1,000 nursing and pharmacy students receive tuition credit for providing vaccinations during pandemic

MADISON, Wis.—More than 1,000 nursing and pharmacy students across the University of Wisconsin System have provided COVID-19 vaccinations and earned a $500 tuition credit while also receiving valuable work experience, UW System President Tommy Thompson announced today.

Thompson also reiterated that the UW System is offering a second vaccination credit opportunity throughout the summer, from May 23 to Aug. 31.

“When our communities needed them, our students stepped up to help us beat back the pandemic,” Thompson said. “I am so very proud of them, and I am very grateful to the excellent nursing and pharmacy faculty, staff, and deans who helped make this possible.”
The UW System previously provided a tuition credit to nursing and health care students who assisted in hospitals, clinics, and other medical provider locations. When vaccines arrived, the UW System extended the tuition credit to nursing and pharmacy students giving vaccinations while universities also set up community vaccination clinics.

Overall, 1,042 nursing and pharmacy students participated in the initiative through May 22. The credit will be funded through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
“Extending this credit over the summer will mean more valuable experience for our students and bringing our communities and our campuses closer to pre-pandemic life,” Thompson said. “When there is a problem, the University of Wisconsin will help find a solution.”

The summer $500 tuition credit will be provided to students who meet the following criteria:

• Must be enrolled in a nursing or pharmacy program at a University of Wisconsin System campus during the 2021 Summer session or Fall 2021 semester.
• Must work a minimum of 16 hours, or two days, as a COVID-19 vaccinator between May 23, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2021.
• Must have a current professional or nursing license with authorization to provide vaccination service, or coordinate with a Faculty Supervisor if not currently licensed.
Interested students should contact their dean’s office.
 

The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 165,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Pitsch, UW System
608-265-3419
mpitsch@uwsa.edu
universityrelations@uwsa.edu