Governor announces funding for Health Sciences Building
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (Jan. 17‚ 2007) — Funding for a new Health Sciences Building‚ which will allow…
Georgia (Jan 1, 2007) — Governor announces funding for Health Sciences Building
Christina Hogan
Abstract
Contact: Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770−423−6203
fweyand@kennesaw.edu
Writer: Christina Hogan‚ 770−423−6203 or chogan8@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (Jan. 17‚ 2007) — Funding for a new Health Sciences Building‚ which
will allow Kennesaw State University to increase its number of nursing majors by 50
percent‚ was announced by Gov. Sonny Perdue Thursday when he unveiled a $228 million
bond package for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.
The bond package designates $42.5 million for design and construction of the building.
The university has committed to raising the remaining amount‚ approximately $17.5
million.
The new Health Sciences Building was approved for funding by the Board of Regents
last August after being added to a list of funding priorities for fiscal year 2008
last June.
“The inclusion of our new building in Gov. Perdue’s bond package for the Board of
Regents is a huge step forward for Kennesaw State and is the result of a lot of hard
work by many people‚” said President Daniel S. Papp. “The new building will help us
significantly increase the number of nurses and other health professionals we graduate‚
showing that Kennesaw and the university system are truly responsive to the needs
of the people and the state of Georgia.”
One of those needs is for more nurses‚ according to WellStar College of Health and
Human Services Dean Richard Sowell.
“This new building will make all the difference in our ability to grow and respond
to the nursing shortage in Georgia‚” he said. “It will have a major impact on the
state‚ especially north Georgia.”
When complete‚ the proposed five−story Health Sciences Building will be the largest
building on campus at 190‚000 square feet. Furnished with the latest technology‚ it
will feature a 300−seat auditorium‚ large tiered classrooms‚ standard classrooms‚
seminar rooms‚ distance−learning classrooms‚ study areas‚ faculty offices and science
labs.
In addition to benefiting the WellStar College of Health and Human Services‚ the new
building will also provide more space for the College of Science and Mathematics.
“The instructional lab space in the building for our biological and chemical sciences
degree is critical to their continued growth and the strategic needs of the biomedical
and biotechnology industries here in Georgia‚” Dean Laurence Peterson said.
Construction could begin at the end of this summer and be complete by August 2009‚
according to John Anderson‚ director of facility planning and design service. The
Health Sciences Building will be located next to the existing nursing building‚ which
will then be reconfigured for other purposes‚ he added.
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A member of the 35−unit University System of Georgia‚ Kennesaw State University is
a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population approaching
20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State
offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate
in education.
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.