In 2003, Central Texas community leaders, healthcare executives and elected officials contacted Texas State to discuss the nursing shortage and to make a commitment to support and seek funding for a nursing program at Texas State. Through the efforts of The Texas State University System, Texas State’s administration, state legislators and healthcare donors, Texas State undertook an ambitious plan to develop a school of nursing to offer a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. In 2008, the College hired an associate dean and two associate professor faculty to refine the Nursing Program. An additional eight faculty joined the School of Nursing in fall 2009, followed by adjunct clinical nursing faculty a year later. The faculty are responsible for arranging the various clinical rotations of students at healthcare facilities and preparing for curriculum delivery both in the classrooms and in the simulation and basic skills labs.  The first class of 100 juniors began nursing studies in fall 2010.

 

 

The nursing building, funded by $36 million in tuition revenue bonds, is a 77,740-gross square-foot, three-story building with the creative design based on on-site visits to recently built nursing facilities. Construction of the new nursing building at the Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) was completed prior to the beginning of fall 2010. The building supports the innovative curriculum in a variety of clinical practice and simulation labs with the most current equipment and manikins, wireless capability, a variety of classrooms and seminar rooms, as well as spacious student and faculty areas. The curriculum is designed to promote learning and research, and to make maximum use of the facility’s resources. The building is designed to accommodate future expansion in programs, including research, and enrollments as resources allow. For additional resources and support the students and faculty will have access to the RRHEC Avery building, which provides on-site library, technical support, student services, food service, classrooms and student/faculty areas.

 

 

Start up funding for initial operations and implementation of the nursing program was provided by the Texas Legislature through a state line item of $2 million, and with a gift of $6 million from the St. David’s Community Health Foundation. Scott and White Medical Center and Central Texas Medical Center designated specific gifts in support of the nursing program and students. Texas State has allocated new university faculty/program funds until formula funding is received.