Funding for IUP Health Sciences Cluster Design, Academy of Culinary Arts Facility Construction Approved by PASSHE Board of Governors

Indiana University of Pennsylvania will receive $2.5 million in funding for two capital projects as part of the 2024-25 State System of Higher Education capital allocations budget, approved on October 10 by the State System of Higher Education Board of Governors.

The allocation includes $2 million for design for the academic building renovation for the health sciences cluster and proposed college of osteopathic medicine and $500,000 for construction costs for the Academy of Culinary Arts academic building replacement project.

"These projects are critical to the future of IUP, building on our leadership and commitment to initiatives addressing the critical shortage of health care in health and wellness of the region and our strengths in culinary and hospitality," President Driscoll said.

"This investment from the Board of Governors adds to the ongoing momentum for both programs, and we are very grateful for the Board's support and its approval of our request for these capital budget funds," he said.

Today's action approving the 2024-25 capital allocations budget follows the Board of Governor's February approval of the 2023-24 capital budget that included $17.1 million for the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts academic building replacement project and $500,000 for a facilities feasibility study for academic facilities for IUP's health sciences cluster and proposed college of osteopathic medicine, which is underway.

IUP's Indiana Campus Long-Range Facilities Master Plan update, approved in January by the IUP Council of Trustees, recommended Johnson Hall, Uhler Hall, and Stright Hall be the site for the health sciences cluster, with a renovated and expanded Johnson Hall as the primary location for the proposed college of osteopathic medicine.

This proposed health science cluster will provide a transformational modern medical education facility, supporting and housing the proposed college of osteopathic medicine and related IUP health science programs in the College of Health Sciences. The programs currently identified for the renovated spaces include the Department of Nursing, Department of Allied and Public Health, and Department of Psychology, with state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory spaces and office and other support spaces; these decisions will be informed by the facilities feasibility study, which is expected to be completed by December.

"This collaborative approach to training future health care professionals is a new and unique approach to health and wellness, and we are excited to have this approach integrated into the new facilities," IUP proposed college of osteopathic medicine founding dean Miko Rose said. "The ongoing support from the Board of Governors, legislators, alumni and friends, and faculty and staff has been incredible," she said.

The $500,000 approved today as part of the capital fund allocation for IUP will continue the progress on the Academy of Culinary Arts long-range facilities plan, approved in March 2022 by the Council, including construction of a new, 45,000-square-foot educational and multipurpose commercial facility in downtown Punxsutawney. The project also includes the demolition of properties gifted to IUP that are adjacent to the Fairman Centre.

Academy students currently have classes at the 37-year-old facility on Gilpin Street in Punxsutawney and at the Fairman Center (the former J.B. Eberhart building) in downtown Punxsutawney.

Fall enrollment at the Academy of Culinary Arts increased by almost 19 percent from fall 2023 numbers.

"This program has great potential for growth, and these new facilities will provide the state-of-the-art facilities that our students and faculty need and deserve," President Driscoll said.

IUP's Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of a possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP in December 2022.

IUP chose to explore a proposed college of osteopathic medicine based on several factors, including the critical need for rural health care: there are not enough trained physicians to provide care to Pennsylvania's citizens: the ratio of patients to available primary care physicians is 1,367 to 1, according to the United Health Foundation.

There are only three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, all at private universities; IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university.

National studies show that graduates from programs of osteopathic medicine are more likely to pursue primary care in rural and underserved areas-57 percent of all doctors of osteopathic medicine practice as general practitioners, and more than 20 percent of DO graduates practice in rural areas. Demand is high for osteopathic medicine training: in 2021, 22,708 applicants competed for 8,280 seats at schools of osteopathic medicine.

Rose was hired as the founding dean of the proposed college of osteopathic medicine in November 2023; the hiring of a founding dean is one of the first steps to establishing the college.

In July, Ryan Smith joined the team as the founding associate dean of clinical affairs, responsible for overseeing the clinical curricular areas of the doctor of osteopathic medicine program, including developing clinical training agreements. In August, Luke H. Mortensen was hired as associate dean of preclinical affairs, responsible for overseeing the pre-clinical curricular areas of the program.

IUP signed its first clinical training affiliation agreement with Punxsutawney Area Hospital in June and its second clinical training agreement with Indiana Regional Medical Center in September.

IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine continues to draw support from individual donors, foundations, and from legislators:

• In September, Senator Joe Pittman announced that as part of the 2024-25 state budget, $2 million was set aside for IUP's new college of osteopathic medicine. These new dollars are an investment above and beyond what IUP receives in the budget and will be used largely to support the operations at the start of the medical school;
• In July, IUP graduates Tim and Debra Phillips Cejka gifted $2 million;
• In June, the Foundation for IUP committed $20 million;
• In May, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler included $2 million for IUP's project among his FY25 requested community projects, and Senator John Fetterman included $2 million for IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine project on his list to advance in the FY25 Community Project Funding process.
• IUP received a $150,000 allocation for the project in the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which was sponsored by Congressman Reschenthaler and Senator Fetterman and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 9;
• In January, IUP's Alumni Association Board of Directors authorized a donation of $500,000;
• In December 2023, Senator Joe Pittman announced that as part of the 2023-24 state budget, $2 million was set aside for IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine. These new dollars are an investment above and beyond what IUP receives in the budget and will be used largely to support the operations at the start of the medical school;
• In July 2023, IUP graduates Nick Jacobs and Mary Ann Hoysan Jacobs donated $40,000 to advance the project. Nick Jacobs is a 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient who has a 1969 bachelor's degree in education and a 1972 master's degree in music education; Mary Ann Jacobs has a 1968 bachelor's degree in music education and a 1993 master's degree in adult and community education; and
• In May 2023, Rich Caruso, a 1983 accounting graduate from Meadow Lands, 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and former president of the Foundation for IUP Board of Directors and current board member, announced a pledge of $1 million for the project.

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