USF St. Petersburg to launch freshman nursing pathway; inaugural cohort admitted fall 2026

University of South Florida St. Petersburg officials told the St. Petersburg City Council on Oct. 2 they will add a freshman nursing pathway and begin recruiting an inaugural cohort that would arrive as freshmen in fall 2026.

The program change is intended to expand local access to nursing degrees and strengthen ties between the campus and nearby clinical partners, including Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Orlando Health and BayCare, university officials said.

Thomas Smith, vice provost for academic affairs at USF St. Petersburg, said the campus is recruiting a new freshman cohort that will "be here next August" and move through a four‑year degree track that places students into nursing coursework after two years of general education. "We will be accepting into the ... there's a new freshman cohort who will be — we're recruiting them right now and they will be here next August starting as freshmen," Smith said.

Allison Duffy, associate professor and pathway director for the USF College of Nursing in St. Petersburg, described the change as a transition from the campus's existing accelerated, second‑degree pathway to an upper‑division pathway that starts with first‑time‑in‑college (FTIC) freshmen. "We're going to be admitting that inaugural cohort next fall. We are going to have a minimum of 60 students starting in that inaugural cohort," Duffy said.

Duffy said accelerated second‑degree students will continue to be admitted, and that the program will use on‑campus simulation in the Band Aid Building (under renovation) to prepare students before clinical placements. "We will also be running simulation in that space ... eventually high fidelity simulation where we put them in scenarios with mannequins who talk, blink," she said.

Council members praised the plan and asked about pipelines from other local institutions. Council member Brandy Gabbard asked about coordination with Galen College of Nursing and other local programs; Duffy said USF already works with several regional providers and will counsel applicants toward other local programs when appropriate. "If they're unable to get accepted into our program, then we do have advisors who work with them and provide them with additional opportunities," Duffy said.

Council member Gina Driscoll, who requested the update, noted the campus’s proximity to hospitals and urged continued partnership. "We have the best opportunities around for people to go to school, walk outside, and see jobs all around them," Driscoll said.

The university said it will track outcomes including graduation and NCLEX pass rates and will evaluate the pathway over time. USF also announced recruitment and outreach events: a campus open day for high school students and a marketing campaign; Duffy said the St. Petersburg campus will host high school tours and outreach on Oct. 9.

Plans discussed include: a freshman pipeline beginning fall 2026, nursing coursework for that cohort beginning in 2028, a minimum inaugural cohort size of 60 students, continuation of accelerated second‑degree admissions, and on‑campus simulation training in the Band Aid Building to support clinical readiness. University staff named in the presentation included Sharon Owen (director of strategic initiatives), Deja Snow (project manager) and Dr. Jason Krupp (director, office of student success). The presentation emphasized connecting students to nearby hospitals and local clinical partners with the goal that graduates remain in the community.

The council did not take formal action on the report; the item was an informational update and council members encouraged the university to return with future progress reports.