Governor Sanders Dedicates UACCM Nursing and Science Center
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Nursing and Science Center on Monday, with a keynote presentation from Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Among those in attendance for the event were Morrilton Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer, Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart, UA Trustee Colonel Nate Todd, UA Trustee Chair Kelly Eichler, UA Trustees Kevin Crass and Judd Deere, Arkansas’ Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, Commissioner of the Division of Higher Education Dr. Ken Warden, Sen. Breanne Davis, other area elected officials, and representatives of companies who have sponsored naming rights for facility spaces. Approximately 150 community members. also attended the celebration.
Naming rights for labs and other rooms have been secured thus far by area businesses CHI-St. Vincent Morrilton, Petit Jean State Bank, Nabholz Construction, Centennial Bank, and Conway Regional Medical Center.
“This is a state-of-the-art facility,” said Sanders. “This building is going to provide our state the nurses it needs.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 275,000 additional nurses will be needed by 2030, and that employment opportunities will grow 9 percent faster than all other occupations from 2016 to 2026.
Nursing is one of the original 13 programs offered since our institution’s inception as Petit Jean Vocational-Technical School in 1963. The college’s healthcare and science programs until recently were housed in the Kirk Building and the Science Building, two of the oldest facilities on campus constructed in the early 60’s. During the past six decades, the nursing programs have experienced rapid growth and changes and have far outgrown the capacity of those buildings.
The new building will help meet the high demand for and continued shortage in nursing personnel. It was designed with room to expand and adapt to future needs as well.
In July 2022, UACCM received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for site development of the new Nursing and Science Center.
In May 2024, UACCM was awarded a $2,024,546 million grant from the state Commerce Department’s Office of Skills Development as part of the Arkansas Linking Industry to Growing Nurses (ALIGN) program.
UACCM has a longstanding history of providing exceptional instruction and training in nursing and healthcare programs. The college’s Practical Nursing graduates have had a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for six consecutive cohorts over a three-year period. The UACCM Registered Nursing graduates have experienced between a 97% and 100% passage rate for the past three-year period.
During her remarks, Sanders recounted a story of UACCM graduate Linda Jackson, who dropped out of high school during the 8th grade and was homeless before finding her way to UACCM, which sent her down a 13-year journey that culminated in her earning a Doctorate of Nursing Practice last May.
“That is the power of education and the power of a community that makes its people its priority,” Sanders said.
Lipsmeyer also lauded the impact UACCM has in the Morrilton community, saying, “Amazing things are happening on this campus and this building is a great success for our community.”
The two-story, 35,000 square-foot facility features seven science labs and classrooms, ten nursing labs and classrooms, and two student lounges and is valued at approximately $16 million.
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