Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

ASU Board of Trustees Approves $8M Nursing Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/27/23

The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees recently approved the construction of a new nursing building at its Three Rivers campus in Malvern, Ark. The university received $8 million in federal funding for the project through the Fiscal Year 2023 year-end spending package pushed by U.S. Senator John Boozman, according to a university news release.

The new facility will measure between 22,000–25,000 square feet and feature four simulation labs with control rooms, an obstetrics room, a pediatric room, and two adult medical-surgical nursing spaces, the news release reports. It will also feature two 50-student computer labs and a 150-seat auditorium.

“We deeply appreciate Senator Boozman’s efforts to secure funding for ASU Three Rivers’ nursing program and for the construction of a facility to provide academic excellence for healthcare in Arkansas,” said ASU Three Rivers Chancellor Dr. Steve Rook.

The Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN) recommended a larger facility to keep up with student enrollment during a site visit in 2019. The university’s current health science facility measures in at just 11,000 square feet.

“ASU Three Rivers has a longstanding tradition of preparing students to enter the workforce as professionals in the healthcare and health science fields,” said Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Pat Simms. “The College’s Practical Nursing program is one of the College’s oldest programs, producing more graduates than any other since the school’s inception.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.