Education IT Reporter

Colby-Sawyer College is set to receive $1.5 million in federal funding to support the construction of a new home for its school of nursing and health sciences.

The $1.5 million, allocated as part of the 2022 government funding legislation signed into law last week, is among more than $62 million being directed toward New Hampshire-based projects as a result of the advocacy of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. These funds bring the college’s total amount raised for the $10.5 million project to $7.9 million.

“We are incredibly grateful to Sen. Shaheen for her continued support of higher education and of the college’s commitment to preparing future generations of healthcare professionals,” Colby-Sawyer president Susan. D. Stuebner said. “A new home for the school of nursing and health sciences will ensure that Colby-Sawyer is prepared to meet changing trends in healthcare education well into the future while also addressing the immediate workforce needs of healthcare providers both locally and across the country.”

Colby-Sawyer College announced earlier this month plans to construct a new $10.5 million, 20,500 square foot facility for its school of nursing and health sciences on its New London, N.H. campus. The building will help accommodate growing enrollment within its undergraduate nursing and health sciences programs and integrate state-of-the-art technology into its classrooms and laboratories. Construction is slated to begin next year with an anticipated opening set for 2024.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen successfully advocated for the inclusion of $62 million to support projects in New Hampshire involving infrastructure, healthcare, research, homeland security and more. The $1.5 million being allocated toward a new building is among more than $15 million being designated for labor and health and human services projects in the Granite State.

“I’m thrilled that Colby-Sawyer is benefitting in a big way from the congressionally directed spending process, which demonstrates why this process is so important to help smaller states like New Hampshire get their fair share,” said Shaheen, chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee. “I pushed for these federal dollars to be included for Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program because we know about the incredible education and training provided at the college, which is a boon to our nursing workforce in New Hampshire. As we fight our way through the pandemic, increasing our healthcare workforce — especially among nursing staff — is pivotal. Nurses are healthcare heroes and I’m thrilled to see this funding come home to New Hampshire to help train and educate the next group of these devoted professionals.”

The announcement of a new home for the school of nursing and health sciences and the college’s commitment to increasing enrollment in its health science programs comes at a time when healthcare providers across the nation are struggling to fill workforce vacancies. According to a recent NH Business Review survey, more than 2,000 healthcare worker vacancies in New Hampshire were left unfilled in 2018, with experts saying they expect that number to climb in the future.

To address this shortage, Colby-Sawyer has pledged to significantly increase enrollment in its undergraduate nursing program, expand its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and add additional health science programs in areas of specific need. Such anticipated programs include a master’s degree in social work as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The two-story facility will include common areas and conference spaces, as well as classrooms, faculty offices, laboratories and a simulation center.

To learn more about the new home for the school of nursing and health sciences visit colby-sawyer.edu/building-on-tradition.