KEARNEY — Cutting-edge technology. Increased space. Distinct architecture.
Modern classrooms with better functionality.
The new UNMC-University of Nebraska at Kearney Health Science Education Complex has it all, and more.
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The Health Science Education Center Complex will hold a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 20. |
The new $19 million building on the UNK campus will host its grand opening, ribbon cutting and public tours at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 20. The public is invited to the ceremony, which will also be livestreamed. Information about videostreaming will be made available nearer to the ribbon-cutting date.
“If you went into a store and could select everything you need as clinical educators bang, bang, bang — we were able to do that and more for this building,” said Mary Ann Mertz, Ph.D., interim assistant dean for the College of Nursing-Kearney division. “It’s a tremendous modern facility with every tool imaginable for student success.”
One of the first things visitors will notice is the open design and layout of the building. From large classrooms and wide hallways to spacious commons areas, the 46,000-square-foot complex offers students, faculty and staff a contemporary space.
Dr. Mertz called the Health Science building a “beautiful space” conducive to studying, and relaxing.
Classroom and lab spaces in the building put an emphasis on active learning.
“The architecture and technology allow instructors to move beyond lecturing at rows of students to facilitating interactive student learning activities that have been shown to produce superior educational outcomes,” said Greg Karst, Ph.D., UNMC College of Allied Health Professions assistant dean for academic and student affairs.
“Today it’s all about collaborative learning. We have a lot of space for students to work together and interact in teamwork situations, which carries over from classrooms to clinical practice.”
Classroom and lab spaces will be shared by College of Nursing and College of Allied Health Professions students. While the College of Nursing has a long history on the UNK campus, the expansion of complete programs of study to Kearney is a new venture for the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions.
“Nursing students will work alongside physical therapy students, or physician assistants or radiographers,” explained Charlie Bicak, Ph.D., assistant dean for academic and student affairs at UNK. “That’s the innovative nature of this facility and kind of professional environment our students will be in once they leave.
“They will go to towns like Atkinson, Broken Bow and Cozad, and there won’t be 20 nurses and 10 physical therapists beside them. There will be one or two working together. That is one thing that makes this a national model.”
The building is really impressive! It's an environment conducive to learning and creative thought, and the faculty out there are terrific. Kudos to all involved with the project.