Kent State University – Geauga celebrated May 18 the opening of new nursing lab that will expand its nursing degree program and multiply the number of nurses the Burton Township facility can graduate every year.
Kent State University – Geauga celebrated May 18 the opening of new nursing lab that will expand its nursing degree program and multiply the number of nurses the Burton Township facility can graduate every year.
KSU-Geauga/Twinsburg Dean Angela Spalsbury introduced the new facility with hospital beds occupied by teaching mannequins to dozens of well-wishers during the afternoon event.
The university did extensive remodeling to the interior of the well-known branch on Claridon Troy Road over the last year, renovating the library space for the nursing lab and the former, smaller nursing lab, and turning the student lounge into a student learning commons with a space to study and eat.
“We needed a space for students – and food,” Spalsbury said, adding the former lounge only provided vending machines, so keeping hungry students on campus during the school day was a challenge.
The $1.7-million construction project started when summer vacation began and was complete in time for classes last fall.
“They tore out the brick walls and put in windows,” Spalsbury said.
Workers added study nooks the faculty and students call hobbit holes with large computer screens that connect to laptops to aid study, and big overhead lights that also help cut down on the noise of a typical student center, Spalsbury said.
Included in the commons is the media center that replaced the library where students can borrow books from Ohio Link and get help from the librarian in finding materials they need for their courses, she said.
Spalsbury traced the growth of the branch from its early classes in the 1960s at West Geauga High School and Park Elementary School in Chardon.
When B.J. Shanower donated 88 acres north of Burton Village, planning began and KSU-Geauga opened in 1974 to provide a place for local students to earn associate degrees.
“Now, 50 years later, Kent State-Geauga has grown and expanded to include degrees in more than 20 associate and bachelor’s programs,” Spalsbury said.
The university leases a large part of their acreage to Berkshire Schools for the pre-kindergarten-to-grade-12 school opened in 2022 and athletic stadium.
She talked about the collaboration between the entities such the College Credit Plus program, which allows high school junior and seniors a chance to earn credit toward associate degrees before graduating high school.
“Our proximity also allows us to share maintenance and facility management between our organizations, benefitting all of us,” Spalsbury said. “Most of our students choose to attend our campus because of the proximity to home, flexibility of classes and small class size.
“Additionally, our tuition is 40% less than other Ohio four-year public universities, ensuring that our students can graduate and enter the workforce without significant debt.”
She invited visitors to tour the lab and learning commons, noting the previous crowded lab had room for only 12 students at a time so the additional space means more students can be accepted into the nursing program.
“Each year, our campus enrolls between 25 and 38 students in this highly competitive program
KSU’s College of Nursing is one of the nation’s largest and most respected, with 60% of graduates employed in Northeast Ohio.
“We are exceedingly proud of our nursing faculty and staff, and with this new facility renovation, we are positioned to better fulfill our strategic vision as we work with community partners such as University Hospitals to build a healthier community for all,” Spalsbury said. “Nursing students are required to master specific skill sets necessary to improve patient outcomes. Simulation (models) allows us to do this in a low risk environment.”
She said a $1.2 million commitment from KSU-Geauga and $500,000 from state funds have made the renovation possible.
“With construction costs being covered, we can now call upon our community partners to help support student success and help build the campus’ future,” Spalsbury said. “Many of our generous community members are here tonight and we’d like to thank them for their contribution to our renovation project.”
She named the Preston family, the Clark Family Foundation, Rich and Christie Frenchie, Mirta and Tom Prior, Drs. Patra and Vichai Duangjaks, the KSU advisory board, Middlefield Bank, University Hospitals – Geauga Medical Center and Burton-Middlefield Rotary as some of the supporters present for the renovation event.
