Arkansas State University will expand its College of Nursing and Health Professions after receiving $9 million in Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations secured by U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.).
The funding will support the construction of a state-of-the-art, health care simulation facility and expand the footprint of the existing nursing building. The project is designed to help address maternal and infant health workforce shortages and reduce regional health disparities, particularly in the Arkansas Delta.
“Arkansans deserve to have their hard-earned tax dollars reinvested in their communities to help improve health outcomes including robust support for maternal and infant care, increase economic opportunity and transform critical infrastructure,” Boozman said in a statement. “I am proud to have secured funding that would meet these critical needs throughout the state.”
The expansion will enable the school to increase enrollment in its nursing and social work programs. The new facility will provide expanded, hands-on training in maternal-infant, neonatal and mental health care scenarios often limited in traditional clinical settings.
“This expansion is a game changer for our college,” said Dr. Stacy Walz, interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. “It allows us to train more students using advanced simulation technologies, ensuring they are prepared to respond to some of the most complex realities facing today’s healthcare professionals.”
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