CONCORD UNIVERSITY CONTINUES SUCCESSFUL NURSING DEVELOPMENT

CONTACT: Nicole Smith, PR Manager
Concord University Office of Advancement
PO Box 1000, Athens, WV 24712
(304) 384-6312
[email protected]
www.concord.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2023

CONCORD UNIVERSITY CONTINUES SUCCESSFUL NURSING DEVELOPMENT

ATHENS, WV - For more than a decade, Concord University has been seeking and finding ways
to enhance and grow the University's overall success, which includes securing funding for new
educational programs, building renovations, improved security measures on campus, and more.
The new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at Concord is one of a number of
emerging success stories at the University. The BSN program not only represents a significant
milestone in Concord's 151st year, but also serves as an example of what hard work,
collaboration, and ingenuity can make happen.

The BSN program accepted and enrolled its first students in Fall 2023. The BSN program has
nearly 60 students enrolled with a declared major in nursing, including five students accepted
and enrolled in the BA/BS to BSN program and four students accepted and enrolled in the
online RN to BSN program. Three students have completed the BSN program pre-requisites,
have been fully accepted into the program, and will be entering the traditional nursing program
in January.

"Concord is grateful for the outpouring of support and assistance for the new nursing
program," stated Dr. Kendra Boggess, President. In addition to widespread encouragement and
assistance, significant financial support has been provided by local, state, and federal officials to
fund the program startup.

The nursing program has benefited from the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff, and alumni at
the University, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) and Chancellor
Sarah Tucker, the Princeton Rescue Squad, area healthcare providers including Princeton
Community Hospital and Appalachian Regional Healthcare, local community leaders, local
government officials including the Mercer County Commission, Athens and Princeton Town
Councils, Delegates Joe Ellington, Chris Toney, Doug Smith, Senator Chandler Swope and others
including Governor Jim Justice and U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin and
their respective staff members.

Funding received for the BSN program addressed operational startup costs, facilities and
equipment costs, and scholarships. This funding has brought the dream to life and is noted in
more detail below for each area of cost.

Funding for the BSN program startup costs has been received from both state and federal
sources. Initial startup funding in the amount of $1.5 million was received from the State of
West Virginia for the 2021-2022 year. These funds were provided as part of Governor Jim
Justice's statewide West Virginia Nursing Expansion Program. Senator Shelley Moore Capito
secured $850,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for the University for the 2022-23
academic year. The state of West Virginia has provided another $950,000 in nursing expansion
funding for the 2023-24 academic year to cover program operations as the development of the
program continues.

The initial Nursing Expansion grant from the state provided funding to develop and equip
campus nursing facilities, which included a fully equipped SIM Lab (Simulation Laboratory), a
fully equipped Skills Lab (practice and demonstrate nursing skills), and a Virtual Reality
Immersion Lab. Other high-tech laboratory equipment secured includes three Anatomage
tables for hands-on anatomy and physiology education. This technology is used to simulate life-sized patients on examination tables and allows nursing, physician assistant, and other health science students to evaluate the body for various diseases.

Senator Joe Manchin secured $1.6 million dollars in Congressionally Directed funding to
develop and repurpose an area in Wooddell Hall to house the new BSN program. This funding
was made available in fiscal year 2023 and may be utilized for three years. The funding will
permit the university to fully renovate the ground floor of Wooddell Hall for labs, classrooms,
and offices, update mechanical systems and furnish educational space for students and faculty
use. Concord secured $2,742,000 for fiscal year 2024 to expand renovations of the Wooddell
facility to include HVAC, electrical, and roof replacements through the West Virginia Deferred
Maintenance funding grant approved by the 2023 Legislature and administered by the Office of
the Governor.

Through the generous support of several alumni and friends of Concord, a number of
scholarship funds specifically for nursing students have already been established through the
Concord University Foundation. Additional contributions to any of these funds can be made by
contacting the CU Foundation office.

In addition to the awards discussed in this release, Concord has active federal, state, and
private grants spanning the University and impacting hundreds of students, faculty, and staff.
For more information about any of these projects or funding initiatives, please contact Dan
Fitzpatrick at 304-384-5276 or [email protected].

-CU-

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or 1-800-344-6679 extension 6086, if special assistance is required for
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