Learning Environment Expansion

The Challenge

South Carolina (SC) is projected to have the 4th worst nursing workforce shortage in the nation by 2030. In 2018, SC had one of the fewest nurses per capita at 7.9 per 1,000 residents.

In addition, national accrediting bodies are moving to a competency based educational approach that focuses on skills-based training and learning assessments requiring academic programs to create learning environments to meet curriculum content standards.

Our current building does not provide space to accommodate program enrollment increases.

The Solution

The College of Nursing has been approved to renovate the 1st floor to include multi-use learning and meeting spaces to increase enrollment for our on-campus ABSN* program.

Space will also provide research and practice hubs to support collaboration, expanded translational research and clinical practice through tele-research pods, telehealth and tele-precepting.

Principal Initiatives

• Create new multi-use student-centric learning spaces to support our goals to increase student enrollment.
• Expand simulation labs for hands-on clinical skills training and academic support.
• Expand opportunities with our Academic-Clinical partners (MUHA) and other healthcare systems to support training opportunities for prelicensure to advanced practice nurses.
• Provide for innovative community engagement strategies to expand our clinical practices through telehealth and tele-precepting.