On July 22, UTM Parsons Center broke ground on its 10,000 square foot addition, which will house its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The new program will be offered starting in the fall of 2014. The addition is funded by the state of Tennessee, private donations and a $1 million commitment by the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, with UT committed to supplying all the necessary equipment.
“It makes a real difference when you have consistent on-going support from our state officials. They really don’t get the praise for what that’s done; they usually get kicked for what doesn’t get done. We understand that. This is an example of where community and state and also a healthcare partner leveraged this, along with several donors who are here today, made a real difference for us,” said Tom Rakes, UTM Chancellor.
Gov. Bill Haslam added that this was a step in the right direction toward addressing the current workforce problem.
“… We face a lot of challenges in the state right now, if you look around you can say, gosh, there’s budget issues, a big issue around bringing more jobs to Tennessee. But you ask me maybe what the most critical thing facing the state of Tennessee is today, it would be this: that of the jobs that are expected to exist 10 years from now, 55 percent of them will require at least a two-year degree. Okay, 55 percent. Right now, 32 percent of Tennesseans have a two-year degree,” Haslam said.
“Fortunately for us we have a higher education system in this state that gets it and understands the issue. … It’s also about making certain we’re providing the right training for the jobs that exist out there, and there’s no question that nursing is one of those professions where the demand is greater than the supply that we have right now. So what you’re doing here is helping us address a major issue, making it so more people can raise the number of Tennesseans with a degree, and you’re addressing a major workforce shortfall that we have.”
In addition to the wider effects the new Nursing program will have on the state, the expansion of Parsons Center is still a community effort for the residents of Decatur County. With donations and support from people like Bill and Janet Ayers, who have long worked in support of education, and Peggy Chumney, a retired teacher who pledged a six-figure sum to the project, local residents are investing in higher education.
By offering the Nursing program at the Parsons Center, it allows more students to attend college closer to home, giving them an opportunity to pursue higher education.
“Affordability, accessibility and academic quality are the three hallmarks. This fits all three of them,” said Rakes.
“We are proud to be offering a University of Tennessee degree right here in Parsons, Tennessee. It not only costs less to attend UT Martin, it costs less when it’s near home, and our graduation rates lead the state.”
Now that the funding is in place, all that’s left is the building.
“It’s going to be the best money you’ve ever spent. … We’ve got the money to send the students to school; we’ve got that. We just need the physical facility,” said Ayers.
