July 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
Spotlights



Message from Chancellor Madeline Pumariega
When there is a workforce need, communities turn to the Florida College System. For example, four colleges in Central Florida recently stepped up to meet the needs of the healthcare industry in Orlando. Every month more than 3,000 nursing jobs are posted in Florida but less than a quarter of them are filled.  To address the vacancies and produce a future talent pipeline in Central Florida, a consortium of colleges with the support of the University of Central Florida requested the State Board of Education approve workforce baccalaureate proposals at Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College of Florida and Valencia College. With health care providers, businesses, and colleges outlining the overwhelming need and laying out how the colleges' programs align with community demands, the proposals were passed unanimously on July 17th during the Tallahassee meeting. The new programs enable nurses currently in the local workforce with Associate Degrees in Science to remain on the job at the same time adding advanced skills needed in the healthcare field by working on their baccalaureates.

"Seminole State's Bachelor's in Nursing, which hopes to launch in spring 2018, will complement our Associate in Nursing degree and enable us to help provide the estimated 1,000 new nurses needed each year in Central Florida over the next decade. Our role in the local community is to help our industries meet their hiring goals," says Seminole State College President, Dr. Ann McGee.   "Seminole State has been working closely with the University of Central Florida and our sister colleges to address the shortage of registered nurses, particularly those with bachelor's degrees, and provide our graduates with high-growth, high-paying jobs."

Providing opportunities for students to earn good paying wages and being nimble enough to meet the high-growth demands of community partnership is at the core of the Florida College System's mission. As needs arise, colleges pivot to provide the talent pipeline to fill the employers' openings.  These new pathways are a perfect combination of a program with an affordable price tag offering working nurses an opportunity to continue their education while preparing them for job growth in leadership roles and healthcare specializations.

Orlando Health's Chief Nursing Officer, Jayne Willis, applauds the collaborative efforts of education and industry to address the issue. "One size does not fit all. Students need options if they are interested in becoming a nurse.  Some students cannot leave home to attend a four year university. They need the option to attend close to home in their communities and continue working."

The four new baccalaureate programs in the Orlando area join two newly launched programs in the Panhandle of the state. With employment projections of more than 425 additional nursing positions needed in their six county service district in the coming years, North Florida Community College will have their first class of up to 50 students training by this fall to meet the employment gaps. And in the Capitol City, Tallahassee Community College, also recently approved by the State Board to add a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, welcomed its first baccalaureate class in the summer of 2016 with 17 nurses participating. Systemwide, the colleges graduate more than 1,500 nurses annually with Bachelor's degrees making the Florida College System one of the top producers of BSNs. The colleges continue to remain number one in the production of healthcare professionals including registered nurses, paramedics and dental hygienists.

 "In The Villages, healthcare providers are continuing to expand to meet the needs of the retiree population. At the southern end of our district, growth in young professionals and families are placing additional demands for healthcare," explains Dr. Stanley Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College. "Lake-Sumter State College is dedicated to our community and has a history of adapting to meet and support the workforce education demands of our communities."

Whether for a young or aging population, our colleges produce more than 4,500 registered nurses each year through their associate degree programs that stay right here in Florida to serve locally.  And our colleges will continue to respond to the needs of our communities in healthcare, public safety, education or whatever workforce gaps arise.

With great appreciation,


Madeline Pumariega
Chancellor
Northwest Florida State College operates the Collegiate High School 
Northwest Florida State College operates a public charter high school, the Collegiate High School (CHS), where 90 percent of high school graduates in 2016 simultaneously earned their Associate in Arts degrees. The school is distinguished by the application of various proven instructional styles. These include a technology-across-the-curriculum approach, student-led conferences, an integrated academic seminar series at each grade level, and a senior graduation requirement capstone project. CHS uses a Student Educational Planning System (STEPS) to develop an individualized educational plan for each student. The plan, including long term and semester goals, is both an ongoing process and a dynamic written document. It ensures that each semester, all students meet regularly with their advisors, who continually monitor their progress. Since opening in the fall of 2000, CHS has consistently ranked in the top one percent of Florida public schools. The five year graduation rates of high school diplomas issued from 2011 to 2016 has been consistently at 100 percent. 
Governor Scott: $85 million Florida Job Growth Fund will invest in new jobs and competitive communities
Enterprise Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) are now accepting economic development project proposals for the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund was created during the Special Legislative Session this past June. Economic development projects that enhance community infrastructure or develop workforce training programs are eligible to receive funding. Florida College System institutions are eligible entities to receive this grant funding. To apply, a college must submit a proposal that supports workforce programs and associated equipment at the state college. The program must provide participants with transferable and sustainable workforce skills applicable to more than a single employer.

This economic development program will be used to promote public infrastructure and individual job training, with the goal that more businesses will choose Florida as a destination to work. DEO will work with Enterprise Florida, and other state and local partners to identify projects that may be considered for funding.
 
Click here for instructions on how to apply. To read the full press release, click here.
FCS Foundation awards $1 million in scholarship funds to Florida's 28 colleges 
Students in the Florida College System will benefit from more than $1 million in scholarships thanks to the Florida College System (FCS) Foundation. The Foundation Board of Directors presented Florida's colleges with scholarship funds at their annual meeting in July.  These scholarships are aimed at relieving the nursing shortage and helping students who are the first in their family to attend college.
 
More than $629,000 in scholarships will be allocated to our colleges for first generation students.  Funds for first-generation student scholarships were provided by endowments from Bank of America in the amount of $146,000 and the Helios Education Foundation in the amount of $483,000. The FCS Foundation is awarding more than $376,000 in scholarships using endowed funds from Florida Blue to students pursuing degrees in nursing and other allied-health programs. 
 
The Board of Directors is proud of these public and private partnerships with Bank of America, Helios Education Foundation and Florida Blue that make a difference in the lives of thousands of students across the state.
 
The FCS Foundation has been providing student scholarships to Florida's 28 colleges since 1999. The FCS Foundation supports the mission of the FCS and advances statewide chancellor initiatives. Students who are enrolled in one of Florida's 28 colleges can apply for these scholarships at their local college. Find your college's foundation  here ! 
College of Central Florida Talent Center 
The College of Central Florida (CF) has strengthened collaborations and partnerships with local businesses and the CareerSource Citrus/Levy/Marion (CLM) to bring about the development of a "Talent Center" in order to maximize opportunities to earn credentials leading to high-skill, high-wage jobs. The Center provides outreach for internships, workshops and job recruitment. Through the establishment of the Guaranteed Graduate Program, CF assures a pool of qualified graduates and offers employers no cost re-training for students in identified competencies for up to one year after graduation. A college-wide local Business Advisory Council was established to focus on specific industries identified through CareerSource CLM, such as Health Care, Information Technology, Transportation and Logistics, Business, and Advance Manufacturing. To date, 23 partnerships have been represented in this process. Since the onset of this initiative, 10 new certificate programs have been implemented which are laddered within existing certificate and/or A.S. degree programs. 
Reggie Howard - Santa Fe College  

Reggie Howard is in his second year studying Pre-Pharmacy at Santa Fe College (SF). He dedicates his time to his academics and serves as a college representative through campus tours, as well as through college and community events. Howard was named Legacy Project Chair and demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in helping to plan, develop and execute a 5K, which was this year's Legacy Project at SF. Through this project, Howard led the team in raising more than $2,000 in scholarship funds for the college's Finish at the Top program. This is a program for students who are missing only a few credits to complete their degree and graduate but are not able to afford it due to exhausting their financial aid. Howard helped pave a way for these students  to be granted the opportunity to complete their program. Additionally, he led a student-driven campaign that raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society, as well as helped raise more than $1,000 for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare in Gainesville. 

As a result of Howard's leadership, commitment and willingness to help those in need, he was named the 2016-2017 Ambassador of the Year. He has demonstrated success not only in the classroom but in the community at large.
Faculty and Administrators: Nominate a Student to be the Chancellor's Clark Maxwell Scholar Student of the Month
In honor of the late Chancellor Clark Maxwell Jr., each month a student is selected to represent the Florida College System. Nominations for the Student of the Month are accepted on a rolling basis. If you know a student who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills, academic success, and/or commitment to community service through their involvement in the Florida College System, nominate them today!
Eastern Florida State College $20 Million State-of-the-Art Health Sciences Building 
Eastern Florida State College recently opened a $20 million state-of-the-art Health Sciences Institute located on the Melbourne campus. This 60,000-square-foot institute will advance the training of the state's next generation of healthcare practitioners and help them prepare for workforce demands. The institute will house 12 new and existing programs that will include Bachelor Degrees, Associate Degrees and Certificate Programs. It will also contain labs for Nursing, Radiology, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapist Assistant, Diagnostic Medical Sonography and other specializations  for the Health Sciences department at the college. 

The building incorporates hospital equipment and human patient simulators that provide students with valuable hands-on training and experience for their future. Currently, there are about 460 students enrolled in the institute this year. As more programs are added, the number of students is expected to grow. The State Board of Education recently approved a new Bachelor's Degree in Nursing scheduled to begin in 2018. This program will help fulfill the demands of the workforce due to the critical nursing shortage throughout F lorida. The institute is also expected to boost the economies in Brevard and East-Central Florida. According to a stud y the college conducted for the Florida Department of Education, students graduating annually from the college's new programs are expected to contribute $6.3 million a year into the economy in salaries and spending power. 

The Health Institute is just one of various expansions planned for the college's Melbourne Campus to be responsive to local workforce needs.