Thanks to U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.)’s support, Arkansas State University Three Rivers has been awarded $8 million in federal funding to construct a health science building as the College strives to provide solutions to address current and future nursing shortages. Arkansas’s senior senator secured the funds for this project through the Fiscal Year 2023 year-end spending package.
During a 2019 site visit, the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) recommended larger classrooms to adequately accommodate the number of students enrolled in the College’s Health Science programs. The current health sciences facility is 11,000 square feet.
Through Senator Boozman’s leadership and dedication to the people of Arkansas, this funding will provide for a new 22,000–25,000-square-foot facility and will include four state-of-the-art simulation labs with separate control rooms, one obstetrics room, one pediatric room, and two adult medical-surgical nursing rooms. Additionally, the facility will include two computer labs that will accommodate 50 students each and a 150-seat auditorium.
“We deeply appreciate Senator Boozman’s efforts to secure funding for ASU Three Rivers’ nursing program and for the construction of a facility to provide academic excellence for healthcare in Arkansas,” said Dr. Steve Rook, Chancellor for ASU Three Rivers.
“ASU Three Rivers has a long-standing tradition of preparing students to enter the workforce as professionals in the healthcare and health sciences fields,” said Pat Simms, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “The College’s Practical Nursing program is one of the College’s oldest programs producing more graduates than any other program since the school’s inception.”
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