Despite the nursing program’s continued growth, the aged Olen Hendrix Building continues to host the classes that nurture the minds of the hundreds of nursing students who enter it daily, but not for much longer. The administration is giving the program a new building, which is supposed to open during the summer of 2013.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m happy for the ones who will get to use it,” senior Kaitlyn Wyatt said. “It will be up to date and have newer resources. We are kind of outgrowing this building. Now our classes can grow and give more people a chance to be in the nursing program.”
Although the current seniors in the nursing program will not get to enjoy the new facility, they said they look forward to the benefits that the younger nursing students will gain.
Senior April Keith said the new building will have an excellent lab and that it will closer simulate a hospital.
The blueprint for the building is scheduled to debut in the spring before spring break. Groundbreaking may not begin until May or June of next summer, according to Cathleen Shultz, dean of the Carr College of Nursing.
Shultz has been in the Olen Hendrix Building teaching for quite some time and said she was excited about the move that the department is preparing to make.
“Certainly we will have more space and more upgraded learning room,” Shultz said. “It will be a better situation and we are looking forward to it.”
Shultz said that they have not yet decided on a name for the new building, but the administration will decide once the actual facility has been built. The new building will provide more room, which will help the program grow in the future.
“This is my second semester to attend classes in the nursing school,” junior Callie McCallister said. “The Olen Hendrix Building has provided nursing students with a place to go and study. I never leave that building. It’s like my home, but the program is expanding and we need a place to go. The new building will help us out on space and I’m eager to see what they come up with.”
