Grants Help Fund Enrollment Increases at California Nursing Schools
Mt. San Jacinto College will use a $1.49 million grant awarded last week to increase enrollment in its nursing program by 24 students annually, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. The Workforce Investment Act Nurse Education Initiative, which started this year to help address the nursing shortage, provides grants to community colleges with nursing programs.
MSJC will receive the grant over the next five years.
MSJC accepted 36 nursing students annually prior to receiving the grant, although the college receives hundreds of applications each year.
The terms of the grant require colleges to work with two health care providers that "can provide in-kind services worth double the state's financial contribution," the Press-Enterprise reports. MSJC will work with Valley Health System of Hemet and the Southwest Healthcare System in Wildomar (Ayala, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 8/23).
In related news, College of the Sequoias will increase enrollment by between 30 to 40 students per semester using a $1.25 million grant received this week through the initiative, the Visalia Times-Delta reports.
Over the next five years, COS will increase its nursing enrollment to 80 students per semester. The grant also will help COS to hire additional faculty and update facilities and supplies.
COS is the only registered nursing program in Kings and Tulare counties (Florez, Visalia Times-Delta, 8/19).