In response to the projected nursing shortage, the Chancellor’s Office allocates funds to California community colleges with the intent of increasing the capacity of their nursing programs and, ultimately, increasing the number of licensed nurses. These funds are intended to address student attrition rates and support student retention by increasing the growth and capacity of California Community College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs. Over the last ten years, these funds have supported the expansion of nursing program enrollments and student success efforts by increasing from 600 to nearly 2000 additional enrollments annually.

The state budget allocated $13.3 million in funding for community college nursing programs. Of these funds, $8.4 million is allocated to expand nursing program enrollments, and $4.9 million is allocated to reduce student attrition rates. Senate Bill 1309 (Stats. 2006, Ch. 837) provided specific criteria to address the reduction of attrition in community college nursing programs.

The purpose of these grants is to:

1. Increase enrollment capacity in the Associate Degree Nursing – Registered Nursing (AND-RN) programs;
2. Determine, through diagnostic assessment, those students who are ready to enter the nursing program and who are most likely to succeed;
3. Provide pre-entry preparation for students who do not achieve the diagnostic assessment cut score;
4. Provide support to students enrolled in the nursing program to increase the program retention and completion rate to 85 percent or more; and
5. Increase the number of students who complete the college program and pass the national licensure exam.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Jeffrey A. Mrizek,dean
916-325-5935: jmrizek@cccco.edu

Brenda Fong, specialist
916-323-2758: bfong@ccco.edu