Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser was recently featured as a guest commentator by the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. Keiser’s article discussed Florida’s Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant and the importance of the grant to growing Florida’s economy.

The EASE grant is a tuition assistance program awarded to Florida resident students seeking baccalaureate degrees at schools like Keiser University and Florida’s other 29 private, independent, non-profit colleges and universities that are part of ICUF (Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida).

In the article, Keiser discusses the importance of the EASE Grant to the more than 46,000 students who currently receive it and the positive outcomes these graduates have had on Florida’s economy for approximately 100 years. She goes on to share the import role ICUF schools have in developing graduates who are prepared to fill critical jobs throughout Florida.

“For Florida, talent remains the currency for workforce development and a prosperous economy. As our state keeps growing and continues grappling with the impact of COVID, ensuring Florida students are prepared to fill critical jobs is the key to recovery and continued economic development. Keiser University and the other ICUF schools have a proven track record of success and have been vital to Florida’s economic growth for approximately 100 years. In service to Florida and the companies that call it home, these schools are leaders in providing the critical workforce talent vital to our economy.”

As the top producer of nurses in Florida who passed the NCLEX in 2020 and a leading producer of allied health graduates, Keiser University has been critical to the state’s COVID recovery process. This commitment to meeting Florida’s healthcare needs is shared throughout ICUF as 17 other ICUF schools, many with multiple campuses, offer nursing degrees. As a system, ICUF schools are responsible for producing half of the state’s graduate level nurses.

In 2020-21, more than 41,063 students at the 30 ICUF schools were eligible for the EASE Grant. According to a recent study from the Regional Economic Consulting Group, ICUF institutions have a $15.7 billion economic impact to Florida and the EASE Grant is responsible for creating 21,934 jobs in 2019-20.

To read Keiser’s commentary in its entirety, visit: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2022/01/21/support-floridas-private-college-students-contributes-states-economic-success-opinion/6585638001/.

For more information about ICUF and the EASE Grant, visit: https://icuf.org/.