University of La Verne Secures $8.5M in State Funding for Construction

The University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif., will receive $8.5 million in state funding to go toward the construction of a new facility for the College of Health and Community Well-Being in Ontario, Calif., according to a news release. The funds were part of Senator Susan Rubio’s 2023–24 budget for District 22 and were approved last week by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024.

“I am thrilled to be able to bring resources to help students reach their academic and professional goals,” said Rubio. “Not only will it generate good-paying jobs to construct the new college, it will also train the next generation of healthcare workers our community desperately needs.”

The facility will measure in at 60,000 square feet and stand two stories, according to the news release. Design features and amenities will include a daylit atrium, skills and simulation labs built to resemble real hospitals, technology upgrades in classrooms, research space, and collaboration areas. The College of Health and Community Well-Being is the university’s fifth academic college and opened on July 1, 2022. According to the university website, the college’s founding serves as a major facet of the university’s 2025 Strategic Vision.

“College programs serve as a catalyst to retain local talent, as well as expand healthcare and workforce opportunities in the region,” said University President Devorah Lieberman. “We are deeply appreciative of Senator Rubio’s support and advocacy for the university, especially as we create a space that will transform a historically underserved and under-resourced region within the district and beyond.”

According to the press release, the college was founded to help meet the growing need for healthcare professionals in the Inland Southern California region. The new facility will stand alongside the university’s College of Law and Public Service and the Randall Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact to complete its “education and innovation corridor” within the region.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • 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.

  • California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

    Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students.