ADA, Okla. – The City of Ada has designated $1.25M of Prop 2 economic development funds to support the East Central University School of Nursing Expansion Project in the construction of the new Nursing/STEM building on the ECU campus.
“The City of Ada and ECU have had a long and productive relationship in improving Ada and the lives of its citizens,” said interim City Manager for Ada, Angie Stout. “This relationship continues with the City of Ada’s support of the expanded School of Nursing. It is well known that a nursing shortage exists both locally and nationally, and this expansion will address this shortage while helping to improve the already quality care we receive locally while at the same time supporting economic growth and development. Having a strong university and health care system are vital to continued economic growth in Ada and improved quality of life.”
The new facility will house a simulation center and more than 25 hands-on learning labs and STEM classrooms equipped with the latest technology, among many more features.
“We are grateful for the strong support that the City of Ada has offered us during our planned expansion of the nursing program,” said ECU President Wendell Godwin. “This new facility will offer future students a life changing education and experience that will not only benefit them, but the entire community and state.”
The construction of this new building and expansion of the nursing program is expected to generate a 400% increase in nursing graduates from ECU. Historically, 84% of nursing graduates stay in Oklahoma five years after graduation and 75% of students are accepted into medical school.
The average pass rate for the ECU School of Nursing on the registered nurses NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is 97% while the national average is 82%.
“Ada Jobs Foundation supports ECU School of Nursing's request for funding its new Nursing/STEM facility,” said Ada Jobs Foundation Interim President and CEO, Peggy Saunkeah. “This initiative leads healthcare transformation in Ada and southcentral Oklahoma by expanding capacity and addressing national nursing shortage. The new state-of-the-art facility aims to double student intake which will bolster the workforce in critical care settings and directly impact the quality of healthcare education and services in Ada and the region.”
This expansion will allow ECU to recruit a number of new staff and faculty as well as more than 200 new nursing students to the university and community.
The new facility will be located north of the Physical and Environmental Science Center, on the corner of N. Francis Ave. & E. 9th St. The facility will include a simulation center, more than 25 hands-on learning labs and STEM classrooms equipped with the latest technology which will reaffirm ECU’s commitment to educating students and to transforming students’ lives for generations to come.