Careers in teaching and nursing are rewarding for those passionate about helping others. In addition, there’s room for career growth in both industries, ranging from nurse managers to certified registered nurse practitioners and teachers to college deans. To introduce high school students to teaching and nursing, HBCU, Claflin University, recently announced its newest initiative, TITAN.

TITAN, which stands for The Institute of Teaching and Nursing, is an outreach initiative to help high school students explore different teaching and nursing professions. The goals and objectives of the new initiative are to address minority health disparities and the underrepresentation of teachers and nurses of color in America. The program will introduce the students to the college experience and provide internships and experiential learning opportunities. Claflin and six other South Carolina HBCUs are collaborating to facilitate the program. 

Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, president of Claflin University, shared his thoughts on TITAN (via HBCU News).

“Claflin University is renowned for the rigor of its academic programs, and we are excited about the opportunities to showcase teaching and nursing, which are among the most critically needed, helping professions locally, regionally, and nationally.”

TITAN is part of South Carolina’s Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCII) initiative, spearheaded by Senator John L. Scott Jr, a Democrat and representative of District 19-Richland County. The non-profit organization provides support, resources, financial aid, and exposure to all seven HBCUs in the state.

“If you want more nurses and more teachers, we need to invest in them,” said Scott. “We cannot have one segment of the population trying to carry the entire load when you have African American kids who want to participate if you give them a chance.” (Claflin University)

Through their Bridge to Education to Education (CUBE) program, Claflin’s accredited initiative has helped several minority students prepare for teaching careers in K-12 education. CUBE will be part of TITAN’s program for high school students interested in a teaching career.

To learn more about TITAN, read Claflin University’s article here.