The 30,600 square-foot building will bring all the college's health sciences programs together under one roof. (Contributed photo/Beaufort County Community College)
Press Release
Grand opening set at BCCC for new allied health and nursing building The Grand Opening of the new Katie Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building at Beaufort County Community College has been set for Monday, Aug. 13, with a schedule of events that will bring Allied Health alumni back to the college campus to witness the changes in health care. The event will be the college's first public event presided over by President Barbara Tansey and will give those attending the chance to meet new BCCC's new leader.
The new building will bring advanced training to Allied Health students at the college and, ultimately, better health care to people in eastern North Carolina, according to Dr. Tansey, who announced a schedule of Grand Opening events this week. "The new Katie Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building will allow the college to build on its fine tradition of providing quality education to front-line health care professionals who serve throughout eastern North Carolina," Dr. Tansey said. "The building and its new equipment will expose our students to 21st century medical practices that will lead to better health care for people throughout the BCCC service area."
"The college is grateful to the community leaders, health care educators and the taxpayers of Beaufort County who have all shared in our vision at BCCC of a health care workforce that is prepared to meet the challenges in today's health care," she said.
The Grand Opening will kick off with an Open House and Luncheon to give BCCC Allied Health alumni the chance to tour the new building and learn about the future of health-related education programs at the college.
The celebration will culminate with a ribbon-cutting held during a Business After Hours sponsored by the BCCC Foundation, The Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and Vidant Beaufort Hospital.
Beaufort County Government meets with the Beaufort County Community College Trustees in late April, 2012, and shown here in the Katie Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building, while still under construction. Pictured (from left to right) Beaufort County Commissioner Robert Cayton, BCCC President David McLawhorn, Beaufort County Attorney Billy Mayo, BCCC Trustee Russell Smith: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage
The 30,600 square-foot building will, for the first time, house all of the college's health sciences programs including the Associate Degree and Practical Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology and Certified Nurse Aide I and II programs. Previously, the Allied Health Programs were housed in 17,199 square feet of space in three buildings.
"The new building will bring people in Allied Health programs on campus together," said Erica Schatz, chairman of BCCC's Allied Health Division. "That should not only benefit the students in these programs but also the faculty and staff."
With the opening of the new building, BCCC will gradually increase the number of nursing students. BCCC anticipates an expansion of 20 students in the Associate Degree Nursing program and 10 in the Practical Nursing program within the first three to five years, she said.
Like the building which previously housed the college's nursing programs, the new building will be named for Katie Paul, a pioneer of nurse education in Beaufort County who was the first director of nursing programs at BCCC.
The new building includes three nursing laboratories, one nurse aide laboratory, one medical science laboratory, a 100-seat lecture hall, five classrooms, one computer laboratory and some 20 faculty offices.
Construction costs of some $6.8 million were paid through grants and loans taken by the county and the college. BCCC recently received a grant of nearly $1 million from the Golden LEAF Foundation to update equipment used by Allied Health faculty and students.
Grand Opening Schedule of Events for Monday, Aug. 13, 2012
11 a.m. to noon - Open House and welcoming luncheon for BCCC Allied Health alumni including associate degree and practical nurses, medical laboratory technicians and nurse aide graduates sponsored by the BCCC Foundation and Vidant Beaufort Hospital. Noon to 1 p.m. - Updates by faculty for alumni on the future of Allied Health programs at BCCC.
5 to 7 p.m. - Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting for the Katie Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building sponsored by the BCCC Foundation, the Washington/Beaufort Chamber of Commerce and Vidant Beaufort Hospital. All events will be held at the Katie Paul Allied Health and Nursing Building located on the east end of the BCCC campus, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, N.C.
27889.
Allied Health alumni are asked to respond to Marcia Norwood at
(252) 940-6218 or by email at
marcian@beaufortccc.edu by Thursday, Aug. 9, if they plan to attend.
