The Florida Board of Governors has approved the 2025-2026 State University System Operating Budget, allocating $645 million for Performance-Based Funding and $40 million for preeminent universities. As part of this budget, $6 million will be distributed to support nursing programs at 10 universities through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund.
Ray Rodrigues, Chancellor of the State University System (SUS), commented on the significance of the funding: “The approval of the State University System Operating Budget includes key funding that will maintain Florida’s position as a national leader in higher education. Performance-Based Funding ensures that our institutions are constantly evolving to provide students with the highest quality education, and investment in preeminence supports academic and research successes that contribute to the rise of our state universities in the national rankings.”
Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb expressed appreciation for ongoing state support. “Thank you to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and support from the Florida Legislature for investing in higher education year after year, allowing our Board of Governors to advance the initiatives of the System’s strategic plan, which includes strengthening the talent pipeline for Florida’s workforce needs,” said Lamb. “The State University System of Florida continues to expand partnerships within the healthcare sector to combat the nursing shortage. The growing network of collaboration between our institutions, healthcare systems, and hospitals throughout the state not only increases the capacity of our nursing programs but also creates the lasting impact of providing exceptional care for Florida communities.”
Established in 2022, LINE is a competitive grant program designed to address nurse shortages by offering matching funds to participating institutions working with healthcare providers. These funds can be used for scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment purchases, and supporting simulation centers aimed at expanding high-quality nursing education.
The $6 million awarded will be divided among 24 proposals submitted by Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida, and University of West Florida.
The Board also highlighted its ongoing focus on fostering civil discourse across campuses. The SUS plans to continue hosting public policy events at all 12 institutions during the academic year to encourage intellectual curiosity and respectful debate.
