ADA, Okla. – East Central University has received a grant from the Valley View Foundation for the amount of $2 million to support the funding of the ECU School of Nursing Expansion Project.
“The Valley View Foundation has been a strong supporter of ECU and the ECU School of Nursing for years,” said ECU President, Wendell Godwin. “They’ve supported us with renovations, classroom expansions and allowed us to obtain new and up-to-date technology. The School of Nursing has experienced exponential growth here at ECU thanks, in large part, to the dedication and support of the VVF. With this new assistance, we will see that growth continue.”
The grant will go towards the construction of the new Nursing/STEM building on the ECU campus. 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.
"The Valley View Foundation is delighted to support the new School of Nursing at East Central University,” stated the Valley View Foundation board chair, Kyle Stewart. “We believe that investing in education, particularly in nursing and STEM fields, is key to fostering future generations of skilled professionals. ECU has been a remarkable asset to our community, contributing significantly to local growth and innovation. We are proud to be part of its continued success and look forward to seeing the positive impact that these new graduates will have on our community and beyond."
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%.
This expansion will allow ECU to recruit a number of new staff and faculty as well as enroll 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.
Cutline: From left to right, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Amy Ford, ECU Foundation CEO John Hargrave, Dean of the College of Health and Science Dr. Kenneth Andrews, Vice President for Foundation Management Kari Blakley, ECU President Wendell Godwin, Director of the School of Nursing Darcy Duncan and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jeffrey Gibson