Regents pave way for Kennesaw State’s new Health Sciences Building
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (May 2‚ 2007) — Kennesaw State University’s Health Sciences Building took…
Georgia (May 2, 2007) — Regents pave way for Kennesaw State’s new Health Sciences Building
Jeremy Craig
Abstract
Approve bond package that includes $42.5 million for expanded labs‚ classrooms
Contact: Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770−423−6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu
Writer: Jeremy Craig‚ 770−423−6203 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (May 2‚ 2007) — Kennesaw State University’s Health Sciences Building
took a giant step forward today following approval by the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia of its capital budget‚ which includes a bond package
that will help fund the construction of the building.
The approval allows KSU to move forward with a facility that will help produce new
nurses and health professionals for Georgia.
The regents approved the allocation of state appropriations for fiscal year 2008 Wednesday
during its meeting in Atlanta. All allocations are pending the approval by Georgia
Gov. Sonny Perdue of the FY 08 Appropriations Act.
The KSU Health Sciences Building is part of a $271.5 million bond package in the university
system’s capital budget‚ which designates $42.5 million for the design and construction
of the building at Kennesaw State. The total cost of the building is expected to be
about $60 million‚ including construction‚ design and equipment costs‚ with the university
raising at least $13 million from private contributions and other sources. About $4.5
million for equipment will be requested from the state in 2008.
“The inclusion of our new building in the Board of Regents bond package is crucial
in moving forward with our new Health Sciences Building here at Kennesaw State‚” said
President Daniel S. Papp. “We are pleased the regents have given their approval to
this important funding‚ which will allow us to increase the number of nurses and other
health professionals whom the people of our state so critically need.”
Construction of KSU’s Health Sciences Building will most likely begin later this year‚
and the 190‚000−square−foot facility is expected to be completed and in use by the
2009−2010 academic year. Once completed‚ the new facility will allow Kennesaw State
to graduate 80 additional nursing students per year‚ and an additional 250 students
per year in other health and human services programs in the WellStar College of Health
and Human Services.
The new facility will include state−of−the−art equipment‚ a 300−seat auditorium‚ 15
health‚ science and interdisciplinary laboratories‚ seven seminar rooms and 11 large
classrooms‚ two of which can accommodate at least 150 students. Also included will
be four computer labs‚ student study areas and faculty offices.
The addition of the Health Sciences Building will fulfill a very critical need in
Georgia‚ Papp said. A 2006 report by the Board of Regents Task Force on Health Professions
Education indicated that the state’s health−care sector — vital to Georgia’s economy
— is in jeopardy‚ due to the critical shortages of health professionals anticipated
during the next decade. U.S. Census Bureau estimates now place Georgia as the ninth−largest
state in the nation‚ but on a per−capita basis‚ the state ranks 42nd or lower among
the states in the supply of physical therapists and registered nurses.
By 2020‚ Georgia will have 48‚000 registered nurses‚ but the state will need 80‚000
to meet the demand‚ according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
While Kennesaw State is a leading producer of nurses and allied health professionals
in Georgia‚ tremendous enrollment growth has caused a critical shortage of lab and
classroom capacity. The new facility will allow KSU to help meet the challenges of
the future‚ Papp said.
In addition‚ the new building will allow campus officials to increase the number of
graduates in other high−need health and wellness related programs‚ including physical
therapy‚ cardiac rehabilitation‚ and applied health and exercise science.
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ONLINE PRESS KIT:
A brochure with further details about the Health Sciences Building‚ and a rendering
of the facility are available online at https://files.kennesaw.edu/staff/jcraig19/MediaGraphics/HealthSciencesBuilding/index.html.
For more about the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia‚ visit www.usg.edu.
A full news release from the Board of Regents‚ detailing actions taken during today’s
meeting‚ is available online at www.usg.edu/news/2007/050207.phtml.
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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.
MORE NEWS…
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 38,000 students. With 13 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 92 countries across the globe. 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, and one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
