Morristown-based Saint Elizabeth University on Monday said it was awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant from Bank of America to support Hispanic-Latino students pursuing careers in health care through its Progresando Initiative.

The initiative was created to help Hispanic-Latinos achieve upward economic mobility through careers in health care, while also helping to increase representation and address the shortage of culturally sensitive, Spanish-speaking health providers.

The grant to Saint Elizabeth University will directly support the addition of a bilingual health care academic coach and a career adviser to Progresando Scholars, in addition to supplemental instruction and tutoring in critical prerequisite classes. The grant also provides for emergency funds to Progresando Scholars facing food or housing insecurity, caregiving responsibilities or other unanticipated financial needs.

Saint Elizabeth University is one of 12 higher education Hispanic Serving Institutions nationwide participating in Bank of America’s Progresando Initiative.

As part of the initiative, education firm EAB will provide research, technology, marketing and advisory services to the participating institutions. Over the next two years, the initiative is projected to help more than 6,200 Hispanic-Latino students commit to health care-related programs, doubling the current student rate.

“As an HSI, Saint Elizabeth University is dedicated to supporting our Hispanic student population in achieving academic, professional and personal success. It is critically important that we enhance equity and inclusion in health care to improve patient access and outcomes in Hispanic communities,” Anne Clark Bartlett, provost and vice president for the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Life at SEU, stated.

“Hispanic-Latino graduate students cite gaps in academic preparation and support, caregiving responsibilities, unanticipated financial pressures and language barriers as major challenges to degree completion,” Alberto Garofalo, president of Bank of America New Jersey, said. “Through the Progesando Initiative with Saint Elizabeth University, not only are we providing the necessary support for Hispanic-Latino students to successfully embark on high-quality healthcare careers, we are also helping to strengthen the pipeline to support employer demand, so it’s truly a win-win.”