Western Wyoming Community College is set to break ground on a new Health Science wing next Thursday, May 10. The ceremony will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. at the edge of the west parking lot adjacent to Gateway Boulevard. The new wing will span over 10,000 square feet on the west side of the school, with an estimated cost of $11.1 million. It is scheduled to be completed by August 2026.
The funding for the new wing includes a combination of state, college, and grant dollars. In January 2023, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded Western a $3 million grant to assist in diversifying the economy of Southwest Wyoming by enhancing the region’s healthcare workforce. The grant was funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative. The expansion comes as a response to the growth of Western’s nursing program from 24 students per year in 2008 to 40 in 2017 without additional space. A Level II study in 2020 revealed the need for new dedicated space for health science curriculum.
Chair of Health Sciences and Director of Nursing, Heidi Brown, highlighted the importance of expanding physical resources to meet the demands of healthcare education. The new wing will accommodate approximately 80 nursing, 48 nurse assistants, and 72 phlebotomy students each academic year. Brown expressed excitement about the new facilities and equipment, stating that they will meet the requirements for healthcare education at Western. The school received continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) during their visit in 2020, confirming compliance with all standards.