Construction of the Center for Nursing and Health Sciences begins April
BY: Melissa Wilkinson
Editor-in-Chief
Friday, March 23, STLCC’s Forest Park campus welcomed distinguished guests to its groundbreaking ceremony for the new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences. As the event was held inside the physical education building, STLCC administrators including Chancellor Jeff Pittman and the Board of Trustees dug their shovels into a trough of dirt to cap off the ceremony.
The Center for Nursing and Health Sciences, a $39 million project that has been in the works for the past three years, is a response to the growing need of the St. Louis area for health care professionals. During his commencement speech, Pittman called the project “a rebirth” for the Forest Park campus.
“We looked at our healthcare labs and equipment…and quickly came to the realization that it’s just a better value for the community and our students just to start with something new,” said Pittman. “Most importantly, this is really a strategic response to our community. We look at the workforce needs in the community, our health care employers in particular just really needed a qualified workforce. The projection over the next ten years is an 11 percent growth rate for health care workers. The need for these trained health care professionals is really critical. Health care was really an easy pick for us given the significant growth that’s going to occur.”
Included in the plans for the center, which is set to begin construction the first week of April, is an expanded dental hygiene lab, state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs and other labs dedicated to disciplines like radiology, ultrasound, fire protection and clinical laboratory science. According to Bill Hubble, Dean of STLCC District Health Sciences, the upgraded equipment cost is estimated at $2 million.
Nursing student Joshua Bludsworth said he is most excited about the nursing simulation labs.
“It’s nice to be able to see what’s coming, to get a first glance so one day maybe we can come back and teach and be in the new building,” said Bludsworth.
Bludsworth, who serves as president of the Student Nurse Association, attended the ceremony to represent the his program. Dental hygiene student Kimberly Volz was also asked to attend as a representative. Though neither Bludsworth or Volz will complete their program in enough time to attend class in the new center, both said they were excited for future Forest Park students.
“Right now we’re kind of in a transitional phase where we’re learning the old protocols as well as the new on top of everything. It’ll be really helpful for future students, just going in and learning the one protocol,” said Volz.
The Center for Nursing and Health Sciences has been a topic of controversy in recent months after major budget cuts resulted in a reduction in force. Many faculty and community members have spoken out at board meetings questioning the ability of the college to fund the Center whilst being unable to maintain workforce numbers.
“The administration says there are two different budgets; one for capital and one for human resources. So whenever we decry the creation of this multi-million dollar move they say ‘oh, well, it’s capital money.’ But everyone in the business world knows that budget can be moved,” said English professor Melody Gee. “They’re telling me the money for my job doesn’t exist…You can’t say we have no money and then spend that money.”
Gee was one of 58 faculty reduced last December. Gee also expressed concern that the Forest Park parking garage was closed to students and staff the morning of the groundbreaking to reserve parking for “distinguished guests” of the event.
“You’re telling us to get out of the way so you can have this public display and you’re going to take our parking that we need to work,” said Gee. “[Faculty and students] are secondary to these other audiences.”
Pittman denied any controversy, stating that the Center for Nursing and Health Sciences will ultimately create a financial gain for the college through meeting increased demand for enrollment in health care programs.
“You have to have good facilities and good equipment to educate people,” said Pittman. “If you don’t have that you’re no longer going to be relevant.”
The Center for Nursing and Health Sciences is estimated to be ready for use in fall of 2019.
