Fayetteville State renames nursing school after $2M gift, plans to double enrollment
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Fayetteville State University has received a $2 million donation from Cape Fear Valley Health, launching a new partnership aimed at addressing North Carolina's critical nursing shortage and nearly doubling the university's nursing program enrollment.
As part of the gift, the university's School of Nursing has been renamed the Cape Fear Valley School of Nursing. The investment will expand facilities, increase faculty, and enhance hands-on training opportunities for students preparing to enter the healthcare workforce.
"We are now Cape Fear Valley School of Nursing, and we are very proud of that name," said Jennifer Edwards, associate dean of the FSU nursing school.
University officials say the funds will support a shared vision of growing the number of qualified nurses in the state, particularly in underserved communities.
"This is more than just a monetary donation," Edwards said. "It's a shared vision to strengthen the health of our communities."
Cape Fear Valley Health will work with the university to increase enrollment in the nursing program from 150 to 300 students in the coming years. The partnership also offers students expanded access to high-tech simulation labs and real-world clinical training.
The announcement comes as enrollment continues to rise at Fayetteville State, with the university reporting record numbers during the past four years. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of students pursuing nursing tracks grew from 844 to 984.
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison said the new partnership is designed to produce long-term results for both students and communities.
"Cape Fear Valley Health's generosity is not about bricks and mortar alone," Allison said. "It's about outcomes. It means more students gaining access to state-of-the-art facilities. It means more graduates ready to fill the nursing positions our state so urgently needs. And it means healthier families and stronger communities across our region. This is the return on investment, and it's a return that will pay dividends for years to come."
The renaming ceremony included remarks from local and state leaders, including Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Mike Nagowski, UNC System President Peter Hans, North Carolina Speaker of the House Rep. Destin Hall, FSU Board Chair Glenn B. Adams, and Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Chair Kirk DeViere.
Nagowski said the investment in the university is also an investment in the community's healthcare future.
"Cape Fear Valley Health is excited to strengthen our partnership with Fayetteville State University by helping to grow and support our local students who want to go into the healthcare field, especially nursing," Nagowski said. "We believe we're not just investing in our local education system; we're investing in our patients and improved health outcomes. Today's nursing students are tomorrow's healthcare professionals, and we want them to be able to receive top-notch training and opportunities here in Fayetteville."
Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
The effort to expand the program is part of a broader strategy across the UNC System. In 2024, the system awarded nearly $29 million to public universities to grow their nursing programs, including $2 million for FSU.
"North Carolina has a critical need for quality nurses, and our public universities are stepping up to welcome more nursing students across the state," said Hans. "This investment in Fayetteville State will make a real difference for the state and for the aspiring nurses who will benefit from expanded opportunity."
Speaker Hall noted that increasing capacity in nursing schools is essential to meet the growing demand for care.
"We need more nurses all across North Carolina, especially in rural communities," Hall said. "Expanding programs like the Cape Fear Valley School of Nursing at Fayetteville State is one of the most important steps we can take to meet that demand."
The partnership also builds on a previous $900,000 gift from Cape Fear Valley Health in July to support a new Health and Wellness Center on campus. Together, the contributions position Fayetteville State as a leading pipeline for nursing and healthcare talent in North Carolina.
Since 2022, nearly 500 graduates from the program, including more than 340 registered nurses, have gone on to serve in hospitals, clinics, and health systems across the state.
Fayetteville State's nursing program is also gaining national recognition. It was recently ranked No. 249 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, up from No. 254 the previous year. In 2025, Nurse.org named it the top-ranked nursing program among historically Black colleges and universities.
With expanded facilities, greater financial support, and strong regional partnerships, the Cape Fear Valley School of Nursing is working to prepare the next generation of nurses in an effort to meet the state's growing healthcare needs.
