NWACC Shows Off New Center for Health Professions
by January 18, 2013 4:53 pm 148 views
Northwest Arkansas Community College dean of health professions Mary Ross joked about some students sneaking into the school’s newly opened Center for Health Professions before the recent holiday break for an advance look at their new academic home.
On Friday, the $14.2-million center was on full display. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 people gathered on the third floor for a grand opening ceremony for the building NWACC president Becky Paneitz said will help the school’s goal “to mirror what’s happening in the work force.”
The three-story structure is about 83,000 SF and contains classrooms, simulation labs and a lounge for students enrolled in NWACC’s nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapist assistant, paramedic, emergency medical technician, fire science, certified nurse assistant and patient care assistant programs. Ross said other disciplines will be added in the future, including one for health information management, which could be launched as soon as the fall semester.
A handful of school officials were among those who spoke at the ceremony, which also featured comments from state senator Cecile Bledsoe. Bledsoe deemed the building “one more positive, aggressive bookmark in the 23-year history of Northwest Arkansas Community College.”
According to a news release issued by the school, enrollment in the division of health professions previously was limited to about 1,350 students. About 1,700 students currently are enrolled thanks to the new facility, which opened Jan. 14.
NWACC board of trustees chairman Ric Clifford said the school hopes to produce about 180 graduates per year, and their average salary will be about $50,000. Paneitz emphasized what that means to the local economy by pointing out that about 95 percent of NWACC’s total graduates remain in Northwest Arkansas.
Construction on facility began in 2011 and was handled by Nabholz Construction Services. Crafton Tull provided the architect services.
The $14.2 million price tag includes architectural fees, construction, furnishings and technology. The third floor remains unfinished, and will be completed as funds are available and programs are added or expanded, Paneitz said.
The center is the latest addition to the 131-acre campus, and is in the LEED-certification process, according to Paneitz.