Ivy Tech Strengthens Push For Med Center
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIvy Tech Community College Southwest Chancellor Jonathan Weinzapfel says he remains “very optimistic” the state will approve requested funding for a proposed $120 million Medical Education Center in Evansville. Ivy Tech trustees have approved a resolution in support of the project, estimating nearly three-quarters of the students taking classes at the center by 2020 will be from the community college.
The public universities involved in the project are asking for $49 million. A two-year budget proposal approved by the Indiana House includes $37 million for the center.
March 23, 2015
News Release
Evansville, Ind. — The Ivy Tech Community College Southwest Regional Board of Trustees met Thursday, March 19, 2015 and approved a resolution in support of the 223,000 sq. ft. Medical Education Center proposed for downtown Evansville. Board Chair Mr. David Gunn presented the resolution to the Regional Trustees who unanimously voted to approve the resolution. A first year nursing student from Ivy Tech, along with the Deans of the School of Nursing and Frank L. Hilton, M.D. School of Health Sciences, spoke about the excitement that Ivy Tech students and faculty have about the collaboration opportunities of the new Center.
The resolution states that with the 223,000 gross square feet Medical Education Center, Ivy Tech plans to move all of the Health Sciences and Nursing programs to the new facility. Through the new Center, Ivy Tech Community College will be equipped to make an enormous impact on the expansion of quality health care and economic growth in the community. By 2020, it is projected that Ivy Tech Community College will utilize 40% of the facility.
Also stated in the resolution is that by 2020, it is projected that with estimated enrollment growth, almost 72% of the students (1,600) attending classes at the Medical Education Center will be Ivy Tech Community College students. These students will be taking classes to become registered nurses, medical assistants, paramedics, surgical technologists, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). All of these professions are in high demand and provide competitive salaries.
“The Medical Education Center that is proposed for downtown Evansville will not only change the landscape of health care in our community, it will offer hundreds of local students a unique collaborative learning experience,” said Ivy Tech Chancellor, Jonathan Weinzapfel.
In the resolution, the Board also asks that Ivy Tech Community College President, Mr. Tom Snyder, share the resolution in its entirety with the Indiana General Assembly and encourage their support of this funding request.
Source: Ivy Tech Community College