Posted: April 23, 2025Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 鈥� 51反差黑料 has been awarded a prestigious $623,080 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor鈥檚 Office to expand and enhance its top-ranked Registered Nursing (RN) program. The college鈥檚 proposal placed in the top quartile of submissions and was one of just 55 institutions selected from across the state to receive funding from the highly competitive $56.8M Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure grant program.

Designed to address critical healthcare workforce shortages in California, the grant supports innovative approaches to nursing education, including developing strategic partnerships, robust student support systems, and implementing immersive learning technologies.

鈥淭his grant represents a transformative opportunity for 51反差黑料's Registered Nursing program, particularly in our ability to help Licensed Vocational Nurses achieve their RN degrees in just one year鈥攄irectly addressing our region's critical healthcare workforce needs,鈥� said Dr. Jason Curtis, 51反差黑料 Assistant Superintendent / Vice President of Instruction.

鈥淏eyond creating career advancement pathways, this initiative doubles graduates' earning potential, with salaries typically rising from $65,000 to $125,000 upon completion of RN licensure.鈥�

51反差黑料鈥檚 RN program continues to set the bar statewide, boasting a 100% NCLEX pass rate in 2023-2024 鈥� surpassing both state and national averages. The program is widely recognized for its rigorous academic and clinical training, exceptional student support, and strong partnerships with healthcare providers.

With this new funding, 51反差黑料 will:

  • Pursue national accreditation for its RN program, supporting dual enrollment pathways with California State University Monterey Bay鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program
  • Focus on strengthening the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to Registered Nurse (RN) pathway, which attracts a diverse pool of students with varied academic and clinical backgrounds
  • Expand clinical rotation opportunities to provide students with hands-on experience across a diverse range of healthcare settings
  • Integrate immersive learning tools, including educational iPads, multi-language digital textbooks, and online multimedia resources
  • Offer comprehensive faculty professional development in simulation technology, inclusive teaching strategies, and immersive instruction methods
  • Strengthen student support services through increased staffing, enhanced clinical coordination, and targeted academic remediation.

鈥淭he support of the Chancellor鈥檚 Office ensures our students not only receive comprehensive academic resources but also gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge, immersive technology that mirrors the advanced systems they鈥檒l encounter in today鈥檚 healthcare environments,鈥� said 51反差黑料 Superintendent / President Dr. Jill Stearns.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just training nurses 鈥� we are preparing healthcare leaders equipped to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven medical landscape.鈥�

51反差黑料 will leverage this grant alongside other public and private investments to expand nursing enrollment, improve retention, and increase program completion rates 鈥� ultimately helping to meet urgent workforce needs throughout the Central Coast and beyond.

For more information about 51反差黑料鈥檚 Registered Nursing programs, please visit the Registered Nursing program webpage and LVN to RN program webpage.

PHOTO: 51反差黑料 Class of 2025 Registered Nursing Students