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Impact: Bursting at the seams
Legislature approves building planning money
A new home for the School of Health Professions (SHP) got a boost from the Missouri General Assembly in the 2008 session. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a capital expenditure bill that included $300,000 in planning money for a colocated SHP and School of Nursing facility.
Leading the way on the legislation was Columbia State Representative Ed Robb. Robb, who serves as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, made a new building a priority after touring the school last fall and returning in December as a member of the House Education Budget Committee. He observed activities in the Robert G. Combs Language Preschool, the Adult Day Connection adult day care program, adult and pediatric occupational therapy clinics and the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic. Robb also visited some SHP classes. He already understood the shortage of health care professionals but was unaware of the school’s extreme crowding and inability to take more students in some programs.
“The Lewis and Clark facility is one of the worst on campus. It is just not possible to retrofit a 50-year-old dormitory to accommodate the educational, research and service clinics that the School of Health Professions currently has in place. The building situation is appalling, it really is,” Robb says.
Robb, who was a physical therapy patient himself last year following knee surgery, is hopeful he can help encourage more support for the joint project with nursing. “The efficient use of resources and the ability to share space makes this a very wise investment for the state,” Robb says.
The School of Health Professions is the fastest growing school at Mizzou with enrollment up 92 percent since 2002 and topping 1,120 students in pre- and professional programs for the fall 2008 semester. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic medical ultrasound and master’s level speech pathology have reached capacity for their program enrollment.
Dean Richard Oliver says a new building for the school is his top priority. “The need for our graduates is such that we simply cannot graduate enough students in our current facility. In addition, our students deserve a building where they can have appropriate classroom, laboratory and clinic space in which to learn and put into practice their knowledge. That has become increasingly difficult and nearing impossible in Lewis Hall,” he says.
While a capital campaign is not yet underway, SHP Development Officer Meichele Foster says contributions can be made to the school’s building fund. Persons interested in making a donation can call or e-mail Foster at 573-884-0927 or fosterma@health.missouri.edu.
SHP Building Committee
Dean Richard Oliver has appointed three School of Health Professions (SHP) representatives to a steering committee to plan for a new shared facility with the Sinclair School of Nursing (SON). There will be four voting members from SHP and four voting members from SON.
SHP voting members are:
- Rich Oliver, dean
- Marybeth Brown, professor of physical therapy, representing research
- Lea Ann Lowery, BHS-OT ’88, MEd ’03, clinical assistant professor, representing teaching
- Kristofer Hagglund, associate dean, representing general facility needs
- Ex-officio member:
Meichele Foster, development officer, representing development
Input and feedback on specific needs unique to each program, area and department within SHP will be gathered. This committee also will be working with Heiddi Davis, director of space planning and management for the University, and will seek comments from stakeholders across and outside the two schools.
In the next issue of The Touchstone look for an update on estimated building costs, site options and initial concepts.
Related Links
View the Fall 2009 Touchstone as a printable PDF
General stories
Forces (SHP Agents of Change)
- Forces: Breathing in black and gold (PDF)
- Forces: Getting their kicks (PDF)
- Forces: "People" people (PDF)
- Forces: The gamblers (PDF)
Impact (How we affect the world around us)
Page last updated on: August 25, 2009
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