Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees approved a $2.1 million lab expansion at their meeting in May. The expansion will accommodate assessment labs, classrooms, patient simulation areas and offices. This modular facility will be at Locust Street and Normal Avenue where the Modular Faculty Office Building is currently located.
Since merging with Illinois State in 1999, Mennonite College of Nursing has seen enrollment increase. MCN is on its way to doubling undergraduate enrollment, and the graduate program has almost doubled already. Simulation is becoming a larger, necessary component of clinical nursing education, and there is no additional space in Edwards Hall to meet the college’s needs.
“Illinois State University has been admitting more students in the nursing program to meet the state’s growing need for nurses,” said Janet Krejci, dean of Mennonite College of Nursing. “In order to accommodate the increase in enrollment, it requires more space and equipment. We received much support from Provost Everts and the Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs and Finance/Planning, and we were extremely pleased when President Bowman introduced this resolution and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved.”
