The University of Saint Francis is one of four Indiana independent colleges which have been named winners of the 2014-15 Ball Venture Fund competition.

The University of Saint Francis won $13,000 for the “Nursing Students ‘Go Pro!’” project. In the university’s School of Health Science Simulation Lab, nursing faculty will guide student teams that will design, develop and complete simulation-based learning experiences. Students will create a patient scenario, aligned with course objectives and content, complete with a medical history, current condition, medication list and family members. Students and faculty will wear GoProTM cameras when the scenarios are conducted in the Sim Lab, with the resulting videos allowing students to compare and contrast the focus of attention of novice versus expert nurses.

“We are so grateful for this grant which will allow faculty to take student-centered, experiential learning to the next level,” said Dr. Mindy Yoder, dean of the university’s School of Health Sciences. “The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of patient care and the patient’s healthcare experience.”

Established by the Ball Brothers Foundation (Muncie) and administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), the Ball Brothers Foundation Venture Fund has disbursed over $1 million for 49 innovative initiatives on ICI campuses over the past 17 years. The 2015 recipients were chosen from a field of 36 proposals by an independent panel of judges, including a representative from the Ball Brothers Foundation, along with those from the education, construction, manufacturing and financial communities.