UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing broke ground on a $28 million expansion of the Nursing Sciences Building at the University Park campus on May 6.
With this expansion and renovation, the college will gain a new 180-person simulation-ready classroom and a knowledge commons for students across 2,700 additional square feet. With flexible learning environments and communal areas designed for group study and discussion, the Nursing Sciences Building will promote a culture of collaboration among students, faculty and researchers from various disciplines.
The new state-of-the-art facilities will enable the next generation of nurses to be prepared for a career in healthcare and help address the nursing shortage both in Pennsylvania and beyond. Penn State’s investment in nursing and the future health and wellness of our world comes at a crucial time as the shortage of both nurses and nurse educators are at an all-time high.
“The importance of nursing education and new learning approaches are key to assuring a sufficient nursing workforce for the future,” Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, said.
This new addition comes as the latest change to the college, with Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State Schuylkill, and Penn State Scranton revamping their nursing facilities to modernize teaching and learning in nursing.
“The Scranton renovation will focus the nursing program into one area on campus, and provide additional room for nursing faculty, teaching spaces, and labs, including high-tech simulation labs. With innovation and technology driving the nursing profession to new heights, it is vital that our physical spaces keep pace,” Badzek said.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place outside of the HUB-Robeson Center with an introductory speech from Badzek, followed by remarks from Dave Lieb, interim vice president for development and alumni relations, Chris Garrison, associate teaching professor and simulation lab director, and Luis Vildostegui, principal architect for SLAM Collaborative.
Overall, the evolution of the college is continuing to take shape, and the excellence, integrity and passion of everyone in the college will continue to grow, said Badzek.
“For decades, Penn State Nursing has been a hallmark of excellence in nursing, education, research and practice. The Nursing Sciences Building expansion marks another milestone in our commitment to fostering innovation and growth of nursing science,” Badzek said.