Nursing students walk around campus. Photo By: Josiah Nelson

As part of the 10-year multi-phase “Facilities Master Plan” approved by JCCC’s Board of Trustees last summer, construction of a new Healthcare Education Building is set to begin this school year. 

Named “A New Hub for Healthcare,” as per the information page, the purpose of the building is to meet the growing demand for increased enrollment capacity and the expansion of current and new programs. The location will be near the Science and Classroom Laboratory buildings. 

Executive Vice President of Finance & Administrative Services Rachel Lierz, along with Dean of the Healthcare, Public Safety, and Wellness Division Chad Sanner and Associate Vice President for Campus Services & Facilities Planning Tom Hall, said the state-of-the-art facility will widen opportunities for students through specialized skills labs and multipurpose spaces that can help simulate a multi-floor hospital environment and also allow engagement with public safety programs. 

The idea for the building sparked amid regional employment trends and campus constraints. 

“One of the biggest drivers is the growing health care workforce shortage, both nationally and in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Our population is aging, which increases the need for health care services at the same time that many experienced health care professionals are reaching retirement age. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects health care to be the nation’s fastest-growing major industry sector through 2034, adding nearly 2 million jobs. That demand is reflected across the professions we educate at JCCC, including nursing, respiratory care, dental hygiene and nursing assisting, with significant numbers of new workers needed both because of job growth and to replace those leaving the workforce,” the team said. 

According to the Facilities Master Plan, JCCC is among the 97% of community colleges that offer health care instruction. The new building will expand current programs and add new ones, including medical imaging, while also meeting student needs with more tools, labs, classrooms and storage. Additionally, it will improve accessibility by relocating all health care programs to the main campus, shifting away from using the Olathe Health Education Center.

“The Olathe Health Education Center has served us well, but there are real advantages to bringing those programs back to the main campus. Our CNA, Practical Nursing and Respiratory Care students will have greater access to the full range of College resources and will be more closely connected with students and faculty from our other health care programs, which is important for imbuing professional identity,” the team said. 

Administrators ask for your patience as groundbreaking commences, which may impact parking and traffic flow. More specific information will be announced as construction progresses. 

For more information about the goals of the Facilities Master Plan, visit its page on the JCCC website.