ASU Board of Trustees Approves $8M Nursing Building

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

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.