Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Postsecondary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Santa Fe College credits state investments for nursing, apprenticeship and skilled‑trades expansion
Summary
Santa Fe College President Paul Bridal told the committee state grants and partnerships have enabled program growth in nursing, apprenticeships, skilled trades and new facilities, including an evening/weekend nursing option, an RN bridge from LPN, and a campus Institute for Skilled Trades supported by job growth funding.
Dr. Paul Bridal, president of Santa Fe College, told the Education Postsecondary Committee that state workforce grants and targeted programming have driven enrollment gains and program expansions at Santa Fe.
Bridal said Santa Fe's CTE headcount rose 5% from 2024 and 15% since 2023, with 5,823 unduplicated CTE students reported. He credited state Line grant funding—about $1.8 million in the college's case—for expanding nursing capacity and said the college's NCLEX first‑time pass rate had risen to about 92%, with LPN NCLEX pass rates at 100%.
Santa Fe has launched an evening and weekend nursing track targeted to working adults and has begun an LPN‑to‑RN bridge. Bridal said the college used workforce capitalization and job growth awards to fund automotive and diesel mechanic programs, an Institute for Skilled Trades (state job growth grant of $3,000,000 cited), and an Institute that will double capacity in HVAC and welding programs.
Bridal also described apprenticeship expansion (enrollment up 28% after an ERAP grant) and an Open Door CDL training partnership that produced 64 workers with 100% employment from the most recent cohort. He described community partnerships, including a Habitat for Humanity trade‑build project that provides hands‑on experience and donated housing outcomes.
On rural access, Bridal described a $4,000,000 multi‑purpose facility award to Bradford County that will house a Santa Fe presence to deliver RN programs locally and create a seamless pipeline with local technical colleges for LPN training and further RN progression.
