Abstract: The overall purpose of the Strengthening Eldercare Workforce through Rural and Underserved Nursing (SEW-RUN) project is to increase nursing opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among registered nurses). The SEW-RUN project is designed to strengthen the eldercare nursing workforce in Arizona’s rural communities that experience high health care disparities related to access and delivery of care. The project objectives are to increase the: 1. Number of SEW-RUN scholars who are admitted, retained and graduated from the UA CON BSN program; 2. Number of UA CON faculty with enhanced eldercare mentoring capacity; 3. Number of SEW-RUN scholars who have enhanced clinical training experiences in community-based settings and telehealth with an emphasis on eldercare; 4. Number of SEW-RUN scholars who have enhanced didactic and clinical training curricula to integrate the care of diverse, elderly populations in rural areas and underserved areas with an emphasis on chronic disease prevention, population health, and health equity; and 5. Number of SEW-RUN scholars with leadership capacity focused on transforming the rural healthcare system through value-based and age-friendly care delivery. We will build a sustainable administrative and academic infrastructure to (a) cultivate and sustain commitment of disadvantaged nursing students to rural eldercare (SEW-RUN scholars), (b) support recruitment and advancement of SEW-RUN scholars; and (c) provide SEW-RUN scholars with enhanced curriculum and clinical training in rural eldercare delivered by faculty with enhanced eldercare training. The project will be implemented by a multilayer faculty team in collaboration with community partners. The administrative team for the project includes: Dr. Cheryl Lacasse, Project Director and Director of Teaching/ Learning and Evaluation; Dr. Linda Phillips, Senior Project Advisor; and Ms. Mary O’Connell, Program Coordinator and Partnership Liaison. The scholars will be coached and supported by Eldercare Faculty Champions (EFC) strategically placed in each semester. The EFCs will mentored by a team of Eldercare Faculty Mentors (EFM) who have expert knowledge and experience in various dimensions of eldercare. Scholars will engage in enrichment activities with EFCs and EFMs throughout the academic year and during a summer intensive to build community, build professional networks, enhance academic skills, and enhance eldercare knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Clinical education will include experiences in acute and primary care and telehealth with an emphasis on chronic disease prevention, rural and population health, and health equity. A Leadership Council composed of the administrative team, EFCs, EFMs, scholars and community partners will provide program leadership. This program provides an opportunity for the CON to expand support of disadvantaged students and enhance eldercare education in the BSN curriculum. This project is designed to address the NWD-E2 Program Priorities of (a) transforming the workforce by targeting the need and (b) strengthening health care access through telehealth and qualifies for funding preferences related to substantially benefiting the rural population and/or substantially benefiting an underserved population.