Work Under Way on UWG Nursing Facility

Construction has begun on a new, multi-million-dollar nursing facility at the University of West Georgia, with work expected to wrap up by the fall semester of 2013.

The building, which is going up next to the campus’ new bookstore on West Georgia Drive, is expected to cost $16.5 million, paid for through state bond sales. But it will come with some enormous benefits, said Kathryn Grams, dean and professor of nursing at UWG.

“It will allow us to double the size of enrollment and it will give us instructional space and office space for faculty and staff,” she said. “Right now we’re still receiving applicants, but last year we had 500 applicants for 120 seats in one of our programs, and we had over 200 applicants for the RN program and also only took 120.”

To add to the already tight quarters in the nursing program, Grams said the College of Nursing has around 50 graduate students working toward master’s degrees at the university, but the number of graduate students will also grow if the university is approved to offer a doctorate by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She said the EdD program has already been approved by the Board of Regents.

“We’re hoping to admit to that program in fall 2012,” she said. “It’s a collaborative program between the school of Nursing and Education.”

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