Senate committee recommends confirmation of state college trustees after hearings on nursing, workforce training and campus growth

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday moved to recommend confirmation of a slate of state college trustees after roughly an hour of brief testimony from nominees across the state.

The committee, chaired by Senator Harrell, heard from more than a dozen nominees who outlined plans to expand workforce training, grow nursing and allied‑health programs and deepen ties with local employers. Vice Chair Bradley moved to recommend confirmation of the group; the committee then called the roll and recorded affirmative votes for the slate with one appointee (tab 10) deferred to a future meeting.

Committee members pressed nominees for outcomes and details about nursing programs, a repeated theme in testimony. Anne Barnhart, a reappointment to the Polk State College board and vice president of strategy and growth at AdventHealth, told the panel Polk State had ‘‘100% achievement in NCLEX’’ for the most recent semester and described a new Davenport campus that will consolidate health services programs. Barnhart said her role as a trustee is "to help guide, help direct, and to support every effort that we make at our college to bring more students in, to help make them successful." (Anne Barnhart, sworn at 00:04:06.)

Other nominees highlighted local workforce links. Christian Caban, a new appointee to the Tallahassee State College board and a Leon County commissioner, said Tallahassee State provides "70% of the workforce at Tallahassee Memorial" and that he would help with fundraising and local representation in ongoing health‑system discussions. Roger Croft and Samantha Scott, both representing Lake Sumter State College, described priorities including ag technology, construction technology and construction management as ways to meet area employer demand; Croft said surveyors and geodetic skills are in local shortage.

Several nominees reported recent NCLEX pass rates for their colleges: Lake Sumter State College (97.5%, per Roger Croft and Samantha Scott), Northwest Florida State College (100%, Lindsey Stevens), Pasco Hernando State College (associate degree 97% and PN 100%, Jeffrey Harrington) and Pensacola State College (practical nursing 90% and RN 85% last semester, Andrew Hobbs). Neli Lupe of Daytona State reported a roughly 95% passing rate. The committee chair and other senators repeatedly noted the state‑level goal of improving passage rates toward the national average, which senators cited as roughly 92%.

Nominees also outlined capital and program priorities. Andrew Hobbs said Pensacola State is seeking about $14 million in state funding for a South Santa Rosa Health Science and Nursing building. Michael Garcia, an appointee to the Hillsborough College board and a board‑certified orthopedic surgeon, said Hillsborough is expanding its bachelor of science in nursing to three entering classes a year to increase graduate numbers and stressed allied‑health and dual‑enrollment pathways.

The committee dealt with one technical difficulty when a remote witness experienced audio and video feedback; staff switched to a phone connection and continued the witness's testimony by phone.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Recommend confirmation of the slate of nominees (block vote, all tabs except tab 10 deferred) - Mover: Vice Chair Bradley - Outcome: Recommended for confirmation by roll call (members present recorded "yes"). - Roll call recorded affirmative responses from committee members present (names recorded on the roll call: Senator Bracey Davis; Senator Burgess; Senator Claudio; Senator Davis; Senator Leake; Vice Chair Bradley; Chair Harrell). (Motion introduced at 01:05:52.)

Why it matters

The nominations shape oversight and governance of Florida's state college system, which many nominees described as a key workforce pipeline for health care, construction, aviation and public safety. Several nominees tied board priorities to local employer needs and cited program changes (new campuses, expanded nursing cohorts, construction and ag‑technology programs) intended to increase graduate placement in local jobs.

What the committee decided next

With no member requesting individual votes, the committee advanced the block recommendation. The deferred appointee on tab 10 will be heard at a future meeting. The committee adjourned after the roll‑call recommendation.

Sources: Transcript of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education hearing, sworn testimony and roll‑call motion (see provenance).