CONCORD - To meet the demands of an increasingly diverse population in Cabarrus County, the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is working to enroll more minorities.

The college in October received a $15,000 grant from the United Way of the Central Carolinas to increase the diversity of healthcare workers in Cabarrus County.

The “Changing the Face of Healthcare Scholarships” will fund $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships for under-represented racial, ethnic and gender minorities in the healthcare field.

According to Cabarrus College admissions director Mark Ellison, males represent 10 percent of the college’s 310-member student body and minority student enrollment at the college exceeded 10 percent for the fall 2005 semester.

In the U.S., 12 percent of Registered Nurses represent racial or ethnic minorities and five percent of all RNs are males.

Cabarrus College vice chancellor Diane Snyder said the national shortage of minority and male healthcare workers is a local concern.

“As our population becomes more diverse, there’s been more of an interest to diversify staff to take care of and understand like populations,” Snyder said. “Our students need to have the technical knowledge, but they also need to know how to develop relationships with their patients.”

Nursing student Brady Melvin, 34, of Kannapolis, is winding down his first semester of his second year at Cabarrus College.

Though Melvin said his presence in a female dominant profession hasn’t challenged him, it has impacted his work with patients at NorthEast Medical Center.

“I think that having a male nurse gives patients a different attitude and makes them more compliant,” Melvin said. “They don’t give you as much flack about things. It also gives them options, if someone says they don’t feel comfortable with a female or a male nurse.”

Ellison said the college’s numerous financial aid opportunities attract students to its programs.

More than 70 percent of the college’s 310 students received aid totaling over $2.1 million in 2004, from federal Stafford Loans and Pell Grants, North Carolina Legislative Tuition Grants and other student loans and supplements.

“We’re trying to reduce the amount of money our students must take from out-of-pocket expenses and loans,” Ellison said.

The college plans to host some outreach meetings and activities with the Hispanic Learning Center and area school systems to discuss the college’s educational offerings with minority and male students.

Eligibility requirements for the United Way scholarships include full-time residence in Cabarrus County, proof of U.S. citizenship or resident alien status, and acceptance to a clinical degree or diploma program at the college.

Applicants who are bilingual or first generation college students will be given priority for the scholarships.

Prospective students should submit an application for admission and all supporting materials by March 1, 2006. The application for admission is available online at http://www.cabarruscollege.edu/.

Students admitted to the college and awarded a scholarship will be notified in early April 2006.

The college will also host an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 for prospective students.

The college is located at 401 Medical Park Drive in Concord and offers clinical programs in nursing, medical assistant, occupational therapy assistant and surgical technology.

• Contact Erin Cox at mcox@independenttribune.com or at 704-789-9138.