Grant to help fund new nursing building

The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation announced a campaign to raise $8 million to construct a new nursing building in a press conference Wednesday.

At the press conference, University President Martha Saunders also announced that the School of Nursing at Southern Miss will be renamed to the College of Nursing.

"The School of Nursing at Southern Miss is already a distinguished program," Saunders said. "Nursing is recognized as the central profession of the future of health care."

It was also announced that the Asbury Foundation of Hattiesburg has committed to donating $4 million to the construction campaign. The Asbury Foundation is a private grant-making organization that began in 1984 and strengthens education and health in the Pine Belt and throughout Mississippi.

"This new facility, pending college board approval, will be known as Asbury Hall," Saunders said. "The Asbury Foundation's continued support for USM and nursing has set a high standard, and their donation has raised half of funds necessary."

Bob Pierce, executive director of the USM Foundation and vice president for advancement, said that the rest of private funds needed will be raised over the next two years to begin construction on the $31 million project.

"Every university needs friends like those Southern Miss has in the Asbury Foundation," Pierce said. "The foundation's gifts to Southern Miss and local community improvement efforts are strong evidence that the Asbury Foundation cares about the Pine Belt and wants to see it prosper."

Bill Ray, President and CEO of the Asbury Foundation, said he is excited to build a closer relationship with Southern Miss and the School of Nursing.

"The nursing program here has been long standing and has a reputation of producing great healthcare professionals," Ray said.

Ray explained that the Asbury Foundation hopes that with the addition of this revolutionary building, more students will want to becoming nursing educators.

"We hope that the other $4 million will come rather quickly," Ray said.

Dr. Katherine Nugent, director of the School of Nursing, expressed gratitude to the Asbury Foundation in a speech yesterday.

"This building will give the School of Nursing at Southern Miss the tools it needs to make a difference to lives of Mississippi residents," Nugent said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving us this opportunity."

Nugent also said that the new College of Nursing building will transform USM's campus.  The building will include new innovative technology, a computer lab, clinical simulation lab, small study areas, student lounge, dining areas, large group rooms and a learning resource center.

"This will allow more interaction and partnership within the community," Nugent said.

The new facility will be located on the western edge of Hattiesburg's campus and will increase the college's square footage by 135 percent. Pending College Board approval, the building will be named Asbury Hall.

Michael Forster, dean of the College of Health, said that this donation could not have come at a better time.

"Nursing is a pivotal heath care profession, and the need for more and more highly trained nurses is projected to expand dramatically into the foreseeable future," Forster said.

The School of Nursing at Southern Miss was founded in 1967.