Private College & University Nursing Education Grant Program
The 2023 General Appropriations Act provided $5 million for a new grant program, titled the Private College and University Nursing Education Grant Program, to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and health care partners to combat the growing nursing shortage in the state.
This is a competitive grant program that provides matching funds, on a dollar-to-dollar basis, to participating agencies that partner with a health care provider to:
- Recruit faculty and clinical preceptors;
- Increase capacity of high-quality nursing education programs; and
- Increase the number of nursing education program graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce.
Funds may be used to award scholarships to students who meet the residency for tuition purposes requirements, recruit additional faculty, purchase equipment, and support simulation centers to advance high-quality nursing education programs throughout the state. Funds may not be used for the construction of new buildings.
Eligible Applicants
This program is limited to accredited private educational institutions that offer licensed practical nurse, associate of science in nursing, or bachelor of science in nursing programs. Institutions must be accredited by an agency or association that is recognized by the database created and maintained by the United States Department of Education to grant baccalaureate degrees. Additionally, eligible applicants must possess a first-time passage rate on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination (NCLEX) of at least 70 percent for the prior year.
2023-2024 Request for Proposal
- DFC Memorandum: Private College and University Nursing Education Grant Program RFP (PDF)
- DFC Memorandum: Private College and University Nursing Education Grant Program RFP (PDF) – Updated 10-25-2023
- PCU Nursing Grant Request for Proposal (PDF) - Updated 10-25-2023
- PCU Nursing Grant Notice of Intent-to-Apply (Word)
- DOE101S, Budget Narrative (Excel)
- DOE 100A, Project Application Form (Word)
- Proposal Narrative Section (Word)
- Health Care Partner Certification Form (Word)
- Project Performance Accountability Form (PDF)
Key Dates
- October 20, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) – FDOE will host a technical assistance webinar to provide information on the Request for Proposal.
- November 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) - Deadline to submit Notice of Intent to Apply.
- A completed and signed Noice of Intent-to-Apply must be submitted to PCUNursingGrant@fldoe.org. Agencies who do not submit a Notice of Intent-to-Apply will not be permitted to submit a proposal for grant funding.
- December 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) – Deadline to submit completed proposal to be considered for a grant allocation.
- A completed proposal must be submitted via the Florida Department of Education ShareFile. Once an agency submits a Notice of Intent-to-Apply, they will be granted access to the ShareFile account. Agencies that do not submit a proposal by this date will not be considered.
Questions regarding the program may be directed to PCUNursingGrant@fldoe.org.