COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC.

This Association was established primarily to assist graduates of the School of Nursing with support in their financial need. At the time of our inception, there was no Social Security, no unions and nurses were working six and a half days a week, with time off for services on Sunday. Leisure time was almost unknown, although benefactors at Presbyterian Hospital donated their summer places for the use of nurses to enjoy either the mountains or seashore on their limited vacations. Salaries were low and, as a result, graduates who lost jobs, became ill and many had no family to assist them when they became destitute. The Association stepped into that void and created such a resource for alumni. Thanks to wise shepherding of resources over the past 117 years, those in need can be assisted through our monthly stipends as well as sick benefits.

One must be an active member of the Association by paying annual dues and submitting an application and documentation to qualify. (The forms for both the sick benefits and the monthly stipend can be and can be available for downloading.

MONTHLY STIPEND — Pension benefits may be available to any active member who is over the age of sixty, and has a limited income.

SICK BENEFIT — Illnesses are usually never planned for and the cost of medical care is constantly increasing. Medications, dental work, hearing aids, eyeglasses are also increasing in cost making it difficult for some to be able to afford these necessities. Sick benefits may be granted for financial assistance to members who cannot work during illness for medical costs that are not reimbursed from other sources. To that end, the Association offers a limited sick benefit to active alumni.

For many decades, the Association has given substantial amounts of scholarship money to the School to be distributed according to needs to the Entry into Practice (basic) program. In addition, two endowed, named scholarships were offered but they declined the gift.

As a result, the Association has decided to focus on scholarships given directly to the students rather than through the school. Hence, we now give to qualified alumni gifts for master’s and doctoral programs.

Alumni pursuing full time study for a degree in nursing from an accredited college or university may apply to the Association by completing the Scholarship Application.

CUPHSONAA, Inc. also has a named scholarship in honor of Ada Mutch a graduate and chief proponent for the School's relationship with Columbia University.