Senate committee recommends block confirmations for dozens of college trustees

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education on Feb. 5 took up confirmations for trustees of state colleges and recommended confirmations for the group on tabs 2 through 25 by a single block vote.

Chair Harrell invited in-person appointees to give five-minute remarks focused on their background, connection to the institution and vision for the college. Nominees who spoke included Christopher Campbell, Joseph Schuler, Robert Reeve, Joel Paul Jr., Daniel Ryals and others from Chipola College; Karen Moore (Tallahassee State College); Troy Tippett (Pensacola State College); Stacy Plean and Daniel Epstein (Palm Beach State College); Marilyn Pearson Adams and Toni Zecce (Pasco Hernando State College); and Richard Franz (St. Petersburg College).

Speakers emphasized workforce training, dual-enrollment and community connections. Several nominees cited NCLEX (nursing licensure) pass rates and job-placement rates as indicators of program strength: one nominee said Chipola’s RN passage rate is 95% and LPN 100%; Pasco Hernando’s nursing program was cited at a 95.9% pass rate; Palm Beach State’s Belle Glade and Lake Worth campuses were reported as having 100% pass rates for certain programs. Troy Tippett, a reappointed trustee at Pensacola State College, highlighted new workforce programs and industry partnerships including airframe and jet propulsion training and noted recent local job announcements tied to shipbuilding.

After hearing from each appointee, Senator Claudio moved and Senator Leake seconded the motion to recommend confirmation by block vote. The clerk called the roll and the committee recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 2 through 25.

The transcript records the committee’s recommendation; individual subsequent actions (full Senate votes or confirmations by the Governor) were not recorded in the hearing transcript.