Science Center Expansion to House New Nursing Programs

The third-floor addition to the Bluefield College Science Center is nearing completion and just in time to accommodate the addition of new science-related programs at BC, including a new four-year nursing program.

The $2.7 million Science Center expansion started in June of 2018 and will be completed by the end of December 2018 and ready for use by students and faculty for the spring 2019 semester, according to Dr. David Olive, president of Bluefield College. 

“We have been blessed to have received support for this endeavor through individuals, foundations, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission,” said Dr. Olive about the funding for the expansion project. In fact, thanks to donations from trustees, the Thompson Charitable Foundation, the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, and other supporters, there will be no direct impact on students’ tuition.

The additional floor will provide more classrooms and office space for the School of Nursing and a 100-plus seat multi-purpose auditorium with meeting rooms. The space will be used primarily for general science and exercise science classes, but can be utilized for all academic areas. In addition, according to Dr. Jessica Sharp, dean of the School of Nursing, the extra space will also benefit a new major in nursing.

“The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is being added,” said Dr. Sharp, “which is a four-year program.”

The college also wants to seek authorization from the appropriate accrediting agencies for a four-year registered nursing program along with other health science initiatives.

“I look forward to the addition of the proposed registered nursing program,” said Ruth Blankenship, vice president for institutional advancement, administration and finance. “I also know there is a need for teaching space across the campus, so I hope this provides additional space that is utilized by all of our faculty to provide state of the art teaching space.”