KISSIMMEE, FL – NUC University officially celebrated the grand opening of its new School of Nursing at the NUC University Florida Technical College Kissimmee campus, reinforcing its commitment to addressing Florida’s growing healthcare workforce needs.
The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, including elected officials, local leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the community. Among them was U.S. Congressman Darren Soto, who played a pivotal role in supporting and advocating for the launch of the nursing program. Students, alumni, and nurse leaders from both national and statewide hospital systems joined community partners to celebrate this significant milestone in workforce development. Guests had the opportunity to tour the newly completed nursing simulation labs and learning facilities – spaces designed to deliver immersive, hands-on training that mirrors real-world healthcare settings.
The NUC University School of Nursing will offer both an Associate of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon licensure, graduates of the bachelor’s program will be eligible to practice as Registered Nurses, directly supporting the healthcare system across Central Florida.
The launch comes at a crucial time, as the Florida Hospital Association projects a shortfall of nearly 60,000 nurses statewide by 2035. The Kissimmee campus – located in one of Florida’s most diverse and fast-growing regions – will serve as a hub for training future nurses.
This expansion builds on NUC University’s legacy as the largest provider of nursing graduates in Puerto Rico, extending its impact and expertise to Florida’s healthcare landscape.
“This milestone represents more than the start of a new academic program, it reflects our long-term investment in the future of healthcare,” said Dr. James Michael Burkett, President of NUC University Florida Technical College. “We’re proud to prepare a new generation of skilled nurses who will make a difference in the communities they serve.”
The celebration also served as a timely prelude to National Nurses Week (May 6–12), part of a nationwide effort to honor and support the nursing profession.
About NUC University Florida Technical College
NUC University (NUC) is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. NUC’s NUC University – IBC Technical Division (NUC-IBC), NUC University – Florida Technical College (NUC-FTC), The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School), and Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA) are included in this accreditation. NUC’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on 2019 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States. NUC has four additional academic units: NUC University – IBC Technical Division (NUC-IBC), NUC University – Florida Technical College (NUC-FTC), The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School); and Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA). Information about NUC, NUC-IBC, NUC-FTC, The DAVE School, and HAA is available at https://nuc.edu/, http://tecnicos.nuc.edu/, https://ftccollege.edu/, http://dave.nuc.edu, and https://flyhaa.com NUC FTC offers diploma, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs in a range of professions, including Healthcare, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Beauty, Information Technology and Business. NUC-FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, DeLand, Pembroke Pines, Cutler Bay and Tampa. Program availability varies by campus.
