Forest Country News

The University of Texas at Tyler (UTT) broke ground for its $35 million nursing school expansion on Wednesday, according to reports from Tyler-based media outlets.

UTT President Dr. Kirk A. Calhoun touted the project as “critically important” as it’ll help the East Texas institution contributor to the healthcare sector, Tyler NBC affiliate KETK reported.

“My particular academic discipline is medicine and I’m a physician,” Calhoun said, per the station. “I was just telling our nursing faculty that no one appreciates a well-trained, high-quality nurse as much as a smart MD. I really appreciate the fact that we’re producing those well-trained, high-quality nurses for this community.”

Calhoun told KETK that with an enrollment of about 2,000 students, the College of Nursing is the university’s largest school.

He anticipates the program to grow as the years go by.

“UT Tyler is going to have a real impact on the healthcare of East Texas long into the future,” Calhoun said, KETK reported.

Kevin P. Eltife, a former state senator who’s the incumbent chair of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, said the groundbreaking marked “a great day for the University of Texas at Tyler and all of East Texas,” Tyler ABC affiliate KLTV reported. 

“We already have a world class nursing program, but this will expand the facility and renovate the current facility,” Eltife told the station. “We’re proud to be here today.” 

College of Nursing Dean Dr. Barbara Haas said that if anyone were to visit the present building, they would see students sitting on the floor and deprived of space. 

“This new building is very student-centered,” Haas told KLTV. “Every decision we made, we put the students at the forefront of our decisions.” 

According to KETK, the expansion will provide modern laboratories, cutting-edge technology and additional space for a program that the U.S. News and World Report ranked among the top 25 when it comes to online master’s in nursing programs.