WILMINGTON – The number of students at UNC Wilmington’s College of Health and Human Services has more than doubled since 2010, and the University expects even greater expansion in the years ahead. 1
That’s why the Connect NC bonds on the ballot March 15 would bring a much‐needed, $66 million upgrade to the University’s health education facilities.
The state‐of‐the‐art Allied Health/Human Sciences Building would be home to students in nursing, gerontology, exercise science, recreation therapy, public health, clinical research, social work and related programs.
Those students will be in high demand as North Carolina continues to grow — and grow older. More than 17% of the state’s population will be 65 or older by 2020.
That percentage will be even higher in Southeastern North Carolina: Pender County will see 18% of its residents over 65 by 2020, and Brunswick County will have more than 30%.2
North Carolina faces one of the most severe nursing shortages in the nation, according to a 2014 report from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Researchers projected the state will have a shortfall of nearly 13,000 registered nurses by 2025.3
That means greater demand for nurses, physical therapists, public health specialists and other health professionals trained at UNC Wilmington and ready to serve the people of North Carolina.
“This is an amazing opportunity … to address the growing need for highly trained health and human services professionals and increased access to healthcare to underserved communities in North Carolina, especially in rural areas,” said UNCW Chancellor Zito Sartarelli.4
The programs targeted for expansion are closely tied with the Wilmington region’s growing health care economy.
The UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine recently unveiled plans to bring third‐ and fourth‐year medical students to a new campus based at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, reflecting the strength of the health care sector in Southeastern North Carolina. The decision to train medical students was influenced by expected partnerships with UNC Wilmington’s updated health science facilities.
“We’re creating new models of care,” said Joseph Pino, vice president of graduate medical education at New Hanover Regional. “Health care has to adapt, and adopt changes.”5
UNCW’s plans take account of those changing models of care, allowing health and social service students to experience training in the same way they’re likely to experience work, with close collaboration between different fields.
Right now, health‐related disciplines are spread out on campus, which makes it hard for nursing students to work alongside athletic trainers or share lab space with clinical researchers.
The bond project helps bring all of these related fields together in a new Health Sciences Quad, allowing easier sharing of workspace and more collaboration among students and instructors.
“All of these projects … are investments in the community,” Sartarelli said.6
Economists at UNCW’s Cameron School of Business estimate that the Connect NC bonds would have an impact of $116 million and 964 jobs in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, as well as another $58 million and 581 jobs in the remaining nine counties of the Southeast Prosperity Zone.7
In addition to $980 million for university projects, the bond proposal includes $350 million for repairs and renovations at NC community colleges, including:
- $5.9 million for Cape Fear Community College;
- $6.5 million for Bladen Community College;
- $2.9 million for Brunswick Community College;
- $2.7 million for Carteret Community College;
- $7.0 million for Coastal Carolina Community College;
- $5.4 million for Craven Community College;
- $4.5 million for James Sprunt Community College;
- $8.0 million for Lenoir Community College;
- $4.2 million for Pamlico Community College;
- $7.3 million for Robeson Community College;
- $4.8 million for Sampson Community College;
- And $6.9 million for Southeastern Community College.8
1 http://www.uncw.edu/bondinfo/qa.html
2 http://demography.cpc.unc.edu/2013/10/14/population‐growth‐population‐aging‐in‐north‐carolina‐counties/
3 http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/supplydemand/nursing/workforceprojections/nursingprojections.pdf
4 http://www.uncw.edu/bondinfo/qa.html
5 http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com/health_care/2016/03/02/officials_wilmington_medical_school_campus_could_help_attract_physicians_to_area/14473
6 http://uncw.edu/bondinfo/qa.html (video).
7 http://uncw.edu/bondinfo/documents/Connect%20NC%20Bond%20SEPZ%20Economic%20Impact%20Statement.pdf.
8 http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/PDF/H943v8.pdf, pp. 4-6.
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