Grants, Donors Fund New Science Building

With assistance from the state as well as local and independent donors, MU’s Health Sciences department has secured enough money to purchase a new building that will serve a, addition to the recently expanded campus. The former Commonwealth Telephone Company building will now house many of the MU’s occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), nursing, and speech and language pathology classrooms and labs.

$4.5 million in grants have made this transition possible. The majority of the money has been granted from government entities, with $3,636,077 in combined grants from Pennsylvania’s Department of Education, Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, and Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project.

While the first phase of renovations is wrapping up, the second phase is set to begin as soon as the university secures the rest of the funding. With alumni fundraising to begin shortly, Vice President of University Advancement Susan Helwig said they are still working toward the goal of $5.5 million.

“I think it shows an investment in health sciences,” said Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. Jean Dyer. “At this point in time we are hoping to grow these programs and service the community in an even more effective way because we will have the facilities to that that.”

The funding will not only provide the financial strength needed to purchase more space; it will also be used to buy new technology. Plans for the classrooms include distance-conferencing capability, an interactive clicker system, and human simulators. The simulators will allow students to practice what they’ve learned on mannequins, while those who aren’t participating will have the opportunity to observe and learn from their peers through surveillance videos.

Professors will be trained to use the new technology, launching a process that Dyer describes as “bringing all of the programs into the 21st century of educating health professionals.”

The move will have a positive impact on faculty and students alike, as the stronger curriculum will allow professors to teach more effectively, creating a domino effect that impacts students’ attitudes. “The preparation of students will be enhanced going out and they will go out with more confidence as a result because they will feel better about themselves and what they’ve done in their labs.”

Dyer also anticipates that this transition will have an effect on enrollment. “Misericordia’s College of Health Science will be recognized as having state-of-the-art educational facilities that are expected by potential students and their parents now, because that is the way health professionals need to be educated.”

While the new building will be dedicated to classrooms and labs of occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing and speech, nearly every department will be affected by the move. Many classrooms and offices from the main campus will be vacated, literally opening the door to other programs. Administrators have not made a definite decision about space allocation, but they are specifically looking to address the needs of the medical imaging and sonography department, as well as the Anderson Sports and Health Center. “They’re still looking at what the athletic programs will need in order to determine how those classrooms will be used. I’m sure they’ll be used uniformly to the whole university with athletics as the priority. [Anderson] needs a new weight room. So when labs come out, that leaves opportunity.”

Dyer looks forward to this new venture and plans to maintain close communication with those staying put at 301 Lake Street. “My hope is that the new building will become an integrated part of our university campus and we might have classrooms available, so that if there is no room, faculty might teach down in the new facility at well.”

Given that there will still be some Health Science classes held on the main campus, integration is the key word. “There will be an integration of faculty, an integration of students, so that we’re not considered ‘that’ campus. We’re an extension of this one, and an integrated component. That’s how I’m hoping we’ll feel once we’re all established,” said Dyer.