Stanislaus State Receives $2.5 Million Grant from Health Plan of San Joaquin to Expand Nursing...

Stanislaus State has received a $2.5 million capital grant from Health Plan of San Joaquin to expand nursing education and workforce training at the University's Stockton Campus, supporting the creation of the Health Plan of San Joaquin Health and Human Services (HHS) Training Center in the new academic building, Willow Hall, which will officially be dedicated on Thursday, March 26.

The investment will fund a dedicated suite of simulation training laboratories and clinical skills labs on the second floor of Willow Hall, strengthening and expanding hands-on training for nursing students preparing to serve communities across the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

"This investment represents a powerful commitment to the health of our region. By strengthening clinical training in an underserved region such as ours, Health Plan of San Joaquin's partnership will ensure high-quality care for families throughout the Central Valley. This vital program will guarantee that nurses and other health care professionals can train here, graduate, and serve our beloved Central Valley."

- Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis

"We are honored to partner with Stanislaus State to expand access to high-quality education and strengthen the pipeline of future health professionals," said Lizeth Granados, CEO of Health Plan of San Joaquin. "By growing clinical training capacity, we take a meaningful step toward addressing the Central Valley's workforce shortages and advancing our shared commitment to a healthier future defined by measurable improvements in health outcomes for the communities we serve."

Addressing a Critical Regional Workforce Need

The grant was awarded through Health Plan of San Joaquin's Community Reinvestment Program to support regional health workforce development and expand the number of bachelor's-prepared nurses serving San Joaquin Valley.

Communities across the Northern San Joaquin Valley face persistent shortages of health care providers and ongoing health disparities. Many counties are federally designated medically underserved areas and health professional shortage areas, highlighting critical gaps in access to care. These conditions are compounded by high levels of social vulnerability-including poverty, limited transportation and crowded housing - which create additional barriers to timely, preventive care.

Stanislaus State serves many students who come directly from these communities and are deeply committed to improving health outcomes in the region. Expanding clinical training capacity at the Stockton Campus will help increase the number of locally trained nurses entering the workforce.

"This region urgently needs more highly trained health and human services professionals," said Sarah Sweitzer, dean of the Stockton Campus. "The Health Plan of San Joaquin HHS Training Center will provide advanced simulation and clinical learning environments that mirror real-world patient care while creating new opportunities for interprofessional education across nursing, social work, behavioral health and future health programs. When students train together, they gain a deeper understanding of each other's roles and how to communicate effectively-ultimately leading to better patient outcomes."

"At Stan State, we are committed to advancing Interprofessional Education (IPE) among our HHS programs, which will help us build and retain a strong provider workforce across HHS disciplines, ensuring the best care possible for the Central Valley," affirmed President Rios-Ellis.

A New Center for Clinical Learning

Located on the second floor of Willow Hall, the Health Plan of San Joaquin HHS Training Center includes a 12-bed simulation lab and a 16-bed clinical skills lab designed to replicate hospital and clinical environments. These spaces allow students to practice complex patient care scenarios using advanced simulation technology before entering clinical placements.

Experiential training environments such as these are widely recognized as essential to preparing nurses and other health professionals for modern team-based health care settings.

The facility will support the School of Nursing's expanding presence at the Stockton Campus and strengthen interprofessional health education opportunities across programs in health and human services.

"We are grateful to Health Plan of San Joaquin for this grant as it fosters optimal learning experiences that support critical thinking, clinical reasoning and clinical judgement for our students," said Sheri Coburn, lead grant writer, CSU alumna and faculty member in the School of Nursing. "Simulation-based education helps ensure that graduates are confident, competent and prepared to provide high-quality care."

The expansion of health training infrastructure at the Stockton Campus reflects Stanislaus State's broader commitment to preparing students for careers that strengthen California's communities while addressing urgent workforce needs.