• Eight Florida universities are set to receive a total of $4.3 million in state funding through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund, with individual amounts ranging from $37,000 to $500,000.
• The universities submitted 22 proposals in partnership with healthcare providers such as Lee Health System and Baptist Health South Florida.
• The funds can be utilized for scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment, and simulation centers, with a matching funds option for partnering with healthcare providers to recruit faculty and clinical preceptors, all aimed at addressing workforce demand and improving nursing education programs.

Eight universities are poised to receive a collective $4.3 million in state dollars as part of the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund during this week’s State University System Board of Governors meeting.

The participating schools, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of North Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of West Florida will receive amounts varying from $37,000 to $500,000. A total of 22 proposals were submitted among the eight universities, including partnerships with Lee Health System, Baptist Health South Florida, and AdventHealth, among others.

Per the Board of Governors’ presentation that will be given on Friday, institutions are permitted to use the funds for scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment, and simulation centers. The initiative also offers matching funds to participating institutions on a dollar-to-dollar basis when partnering with healthcare providers to recruit faculty and clinical preceptors.

“The LINE Fund is intended to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs and healthcare partners and to meet local, regional, and state workforce demand by recruiting faculty and clinical preceptors, increasing the capacity of high-quality nursing education programs, and increasing the number of nursing education program graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce,” reads the agenda item.

This year, the Florida Legislature earmarked $6 million for the SUS to support the LINE Fund for the current fiscal year, meaning that $1.68 million remains in reserves for any potential future uses.

To participate in the program, institutions must maintain a nursing education program with a first-time passage rate on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination of at least 70 percent. The funds may be used for purposes like student scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment, and simulation centers to enhance nursing education programs, but not for constructing new buildings.