News Article

Edison College Receives $1.9 M For Nursing Expansion

Nov 3, 2005


Edison College has been awarded $1,986,371 to expand its nursing program, bringing the total enrollment capacity in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties to 324 freshmen a year, a 225% increase over 2001 capacity. The College is among 70 of the 388 applicants nationwide funded under the US Department of Labor's Community-Based Job Training Grant program.

On behalf of President Kenneth P. Walker, District Executive Vice President and Lee Campus President Robert Jones and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Beeson congratulate Paul Monagan, Associate Dean, Health Professions on receiving a $1.9 M grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support the expansion of the nursing program district wide for 2006-2008.

The grant supports six full-time professors of nursing, three full-time program/clinical coordinators, one full-time lab supervisor, clinical associates, an adjunct professor, and support staff. It also provides funding for program-related travel costs, educational supplies, and recruitment materials. An evening/ weekend program supplements traditional daytime offerings, enabling non-traditional students to pursue a nursing degree. The application leveraged Edison College funding of $415,089.

"The partnerships that the College shares with our medical facilities, school districts and the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board have allowed us to respond to the critical need todevelop our community's nursing workforce in a remarkable manner," said Paul Monagan, Edison College's Associate District Dean of Health Professions and Grant Manager. "We started in 2002 withprivate contributions, and added a state grant of $561,303 and a federal grant of $99,200 in 2005-06. Now the funding responsibility will be shared at the federal level for 2006-2008."

"The College expresses appreciation to area hospitals, SW Florida Workforce Development Board, local school districts, economic development offices and chambers of commerce which supported our application," said Edison College President Kenneth P. Walker.

Concurrent to the program's rapid growth, Edison College graduates have increased their pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses NCLEX . The 88.75% pass rate in 2005 places Edison College in the top 11 of the 28 public two-year nursing degree programs in Florida.

Last Updated: November 3, 2005

Back to News Archives