At the University of Southern Indiana’s Health Professions Center, the construction fence is up, and site work has begun on their $49 million renovation.
This project will allow for growth in three large medical programs amid a climate of workplace shortages.
This is phase includes a nearly doubling of the nursing skills labs with hospital-accurate facilities such as beds and the headwall for all the necessary wall connections for electrical and medical gas functions.
Julie McCullough is dean of the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions. She said these new labs can educate and get students into the workforce more efficiently.
“And I think that helps from the healthcare perspective on just productivity, they're going to be ready to learn, ready to work when they leave.”
This is phase four of the overall project. An earlier phase updated the nursing simulation center, which should be open soon.
McCullough said they have their eye on growing their nursing program with this expansion.
There are four nursing programs, with an anticipated total enrollment of 642 students for spring 2025.
The Respiratory Therapy and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs will also benefit from this phase of the project with new classrooms and lab space.
Overall they are expanding the footprint of the building by 48,000 square feet.
This also includes a new front door, auditorium and offices for the administration and advising center and Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning.
The plan is to be open by December of 2026. In the meantime, programs will not be disrupted.
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