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$9.5M Expansion for SMC Nursing Bldg

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It was extremely fortuitous that Governor Rick Snyder signed the state's new 2017 budget along the lakeshore yesterday and then headed to St. Joe for a private reception on behalf of State Representative and Appropriations Committee Chair Al Pscholka. It paved the way for a face-to-face thank you by Southwestern Michigan College President Dr. David Mathews and several key board members for a capital outlay authorization which will aid the renovation and expansion of the Dowagiac institution's nursing building.

Within hours of the signing of that capital outlay bill that includes the renovation and expansion President Dr. David Mathews, as well as SMC Board Chairman Thomas F. Jerdon, Vice Chairman Keith McKenzie and Secretary Bill White were able to personally thank Gov. Rick Snyder and House Appropriations Chair Al Pscholka at last night's event.

Mathews applauded the Stevensville lawmaker's help, saying, “In his role as appropriations chairman, Al Pscholka worked tirelessly toward including funding for this project that is so critical to our region. By quarterbacking this effort, he was then able to make the case for the impact of this project to the governor, fully supported by our other state legislators. We could not have accomplished this without Al, and Al could not have accomplished this without the support of Reps. Dave Pagel, Aaron Miller, Aric Nesbitt and Sens. John Proos and Tonya Schuitmaker.”  He adds, “Because of this authorization, final preparations can take place for groundbreaking in 2017.”

SMC plans a $9.6 million expansion to its 12,047-square-foot 1970 Nursing and Health Education Wing, creating a 29,086-square-foot facility for fall 2018 classes.

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SMC expects to break ground in May concurrently with the Class of 2017 commencement for the 14-month construction. Jerdon says, “It’s quite a building.”  talking about the structure composed two-thirds of instructional space. He adds, “The need for expanded nursing education facilities in our region is clear. We’re exceptionally grateful to Al and Gov. Snyder and for the support of the other legislators.”

The price tag includes all technology, equipment and furnishings. SMC’s current facility accommodates 40 new students each term, compared to 56 in the larger space.

Besides state-of-the-art classrooms, the expansion’s simulation labs equipped like hospital rooms provide clinical experience on campus that is increasingly hard to come by in hospitals.

The renovated and expanded health education building contains 10 classrooms, including two collaboration/conference rooms, one dedicated to CNA (certified nursing assistant) and another to medical assisting, two skills labs, four simulation labs, 20 simulation beds and faculty offices.

Architects, Abonmarche Consultants of Benton Harbor, created a “u” shape around the existing floor plan with a predominant factor in the design process being a central “spine” running north-south from the David C. Briegel administration building to the new glassed multi-purpose atrium facing the three residence halls.

Abonmarche Architect Arvin Delacruz says, “We’ve designed within this building envelope those sorts of things we can maximize natural daylight when the sun is low on the horizon during winter, but also provide sunscreen and shade during summer. It’s going to be tinted glass and argon gas-insulated panels. The other thing we wanted to do is have it be visible to the rest of campus.”

Natural light streaming in from all four directions will help with energy consumption by turning on fewer lights in the daytime.
Storage is another feature.

Delacruz points out, “We were mindful to create strategically-placed storage areas along the corridor so instructors can access any materials without going into the classrooms. In the current set-up, storage is in each classroom.”

The spine opening into the Briegel Building contains galleries to detail nursing history since Florence Nightingale, highlight what a health information technologist or physical therapist does and SMC nursing graduates or current students. Entrances will be at each corner of the atrium. There will be a variety of furniture configurations because nursing students tend to study in groups.

With more than 400 students in nursing and health service programs, they represent more than 20 percent of the student body. SMC nursing students average 94 percent on the NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination — far better than the national average of 88 percent.

 
President Dr. David Mathews and SMC First Lady Sarah Mathews thank Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Appropriations Committee Chairman Al Pscholka, for signing a capital outlay bill containing funding to renovate and expand the health education building.

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