Four projects have been awarded a total of $452,000 as part of the 2024 grant cycle

June 24, 2024 – Sacramento, CA – The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) recently announced its 2024 Nursing Education Investment Grants Program awardees. This year’s funds are supporting projects working towards accelerated pathways for individuals to become registered nurses and the creation of new and enhanced tools for clinical training.

In total, $452,000 was awarded to four projects led by California community colleges. These include: 

• Cuesta College, “Accelerating Regional Diversity and Supply of Registered Nurses in California’s Central Coast”: Cuesta College will expand its Registered Nursing (RN) program to address the Central Coast nursing shortage, offering an accelerated 12-month pathway for licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). By helping LVNs access RN careers, the project also impacts the diversity gap between the RN workforce and patient demographics.
• Rio Hondo College, “SimuCARE: Bridging Clinical Gaps with Virtual Reality”: Rio Hondo College will use funds to support teaching with Virtual Reality (VR) simulation, which provides a powerful tool for creating a psychologically safe learning environment. The project will focus on addressing the unique needs and challenges of Hispanic nursing students by promoting cultural representation, empowerment, positive role modeling, and supportive feedback. VR technology helps foster confidence, self-efficacy, and self-esteem among nursing students, ultimately contributing to their success in nursing education and practice.
• Butte-Glenn Community College District and Butte College, “Addressing Critical Need with the Expansion of a Licensed Vocational Nursing Program”:  This project will support the expansion of the Butte College LVN program which currently admits 30 students every three semesters. Beginning January 27, 2025, 30 students will be admitted every semester to increase by 60 students a year. Funds will aid the program expansion, including providing case management to ensure that student supports for basic needs and mental health are available and accessible to those in the program.
• Taft College Foundation and Taft College, “New Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program”: Taft College Foundation will launch an ADN Program in partnership with Taft College to help meet labor demands in Kern County and surrounding communities. The ADN program will provide new skill sets and career opportunities for students interested in a nursing career. 

FoundationCCC awards Nursing Education Investment Grants to support projects that facilitate, coordinate with, or complement efforts to educate and train nurses through the California Community Colleges. Grant funding is provided by the Nursing Education Investment Fund established in 2005 through an agreement between FoundationCCC, WellPoint, Inc., and the Insurance Commissioner for the State of California, and is designed to benefit nursing education within the California Community College system. FoundationCCC maintains the fund and administers grantmaking.

More information about the Nursing Education Investment Grants Program and about past awarded projects and grantees can be found here.

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The Foundation for California Community Colleges works to benefit students, colleges, and communities by accelerating paths to economic and social mobility, strengthening communities, and reducing barriers to opportunities for all Californians. FoundationCCC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1998. It serves as the official statewide nonprofit organization supporting the California Community Colleges, the largest system of higher education in the nation. For more information, visit www.foundationccc.org.