Palm Coast, FL - A private university in Jacksonville is partnering with the City of Palm Coast to bring in-demand healthcare graduate programs to Flagler & Volusia.
Both Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland and Jacksonville University President Tim Cost made the announcement of the new campus on Tuesday (December 15th). The new Jacksonville University (JU) Palm Coast Campus and the school's main campus will then serve as two anchors of what the school expects to become—an education corridor stretching throughout Northeast Florida.
“This partnership builds on Jacksonville University’s proven strategy of attracting top-notch students, educating and training them in cutting-edge fields, and connecting them with local employers so they stay in the region,” said President Cost. “With demand for healthcare professionals expected to rise 14 percent in the next decade, and a lack of local graduate programs devoted to educating advanced specialized healthcare professionals, this investment comes at a critical time."
The campus will offer several highly acclaimed programs such as a Master of Leadership in Healthcare program and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Nursing programs will also be available alongside future programs, such as an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which offers an undergraduate nurside degree for those who already have a bachelor's degree outside of nursing.
According to JU, these programs are not currently offered in the region and represent some of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations in the country.
"This partnership cements Palm Coast as a destination for high-quality healthcare: for students, for employers and for our residents, and builds on the existing degree pipeline from Flagler Palm Coast High School’s medical flagship and offerings at Daytona State College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,” said Mayor Holland.
The Palm Coast City Council approved a $1.5 million grant to JU, designated for initial start up costs and program launch, as well as establishing the actual campus, which will be located at the Palm Coast Town Center.
The preliminary campus footprint will feature 4,000 to 6,000 square feet of "cutting-edge classroom and healthcare training technology," which is to be built in partnership with Douglas Property & Development, a Palm Coast-based company.
The city also approved a three-year, $1 million forgivable loan to offset ongoing program costs. Per a release from JU, the university has already invested academic resources for curriculum development and accreditation for the new Palm Coast location.
At the moment, JU expects to enroll up to 50 students in its first semester—slated for Fall of 2021—with a total in-person enrollment between 100 and 150 students within the first two years. The campus is also expected to create between 20 and 30 new jobs, including faculty and staff positions. Information regarding student applications and employment opportunities will also be available within the coming months.
