USCA Nursing School Receives $2M Grant for Next-Gen Training

The funding will modernize simulation labs and learning environments to better prepare students for real-world healthcare roles.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The University of South Carolina Aiken's School of Nursing has been awarded a $2 million grant to upgrade its facilities and technology in order to provide more realistic, hands-on learning experiences for nursing students. The investment will allow the school to enhance its simulation labs, audiovisual capabilities, and classroom spaces to better mirror actual hospital environments and patient scenarios.

Why it matters

As one of the fastest growing states, South Carolina is working to develop a robust healthcare workforce to meet the demands of the 21st century. This grant will help USCA's nursing program stay on the cutting edge of nursing education, producing graduates who are better prepared for the realities of modern medical practice.

The details

The $2 million grant will fund upgrades to USCA's nursing simulation labs, including new audiovisual technology to enhance students' ability to record, review, and debrief simulations. Classroom renovations will also create more collaborative and technology-rich learning environments to support team-based training. The enhancements are expected to allow the program to expand its use of simulation to replace up to 50% of clinical hours.

  • The $2 million grant was awarded in February 2026.

The players

USCA School of Nursing

The nursing program at the University of South Carolina Aiken, which is receiving the $2 million grant to modernize its facilities and training methods.

Dr. Katie Chargualaf

The dean of the USCA School of Nursing, who says the investment will allow for more realistic hands-on learning experiences for students.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham

The senator who helped secure nearly $150 million in funding for infrastructure and workforce development projects across South Carolina, including the $2 million grant for USCA's nursing program.

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What they’re saying

“Upgrading our equipment and modernizing the space in the high-fidelity simulation lab will allow students to learn in environments that closely mirror what they will see in real practice. These enhancements will allow us to replicate hospital rooms, complex patient conditions, and emergency situations.”

— Dr. Katie Chargualaf, Dean, USCA School of Nursing (wrdw.com)

“As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, the future of South Carolina depends on robust infrastructure systems and a well-trained workforce. I am very pleased that this appropriations package fulfills these needs.”

— U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (wrdw.com)

What’s next

The USCA School of Nursing plans to begin implementing the upgrades funded by the $2 million grant in the coming months, with the goal of having the new simulation labs and learning environments operational by the start of the 2027 academic year.

The takeaway

This investment in USCA's nursing program underscores South Carolina's commitment to developing a strong healthcare workforce to support the state's rapid growth. By providing nursing students with state-of-the-art training facilities, the university can better prepare the next generation of nurses to meet the evolving demands of modern medical practice.