Sinclair to invest $32 million in campus

Sinclair Community College plans to consolidate its health care programs into a single, expanded facility to allow for 25 percent student growth over the next decade and benefit the region’s health care industry, school officials said today.

The proposed Health Sciences Center was part of $32 million in strategic investments announced during a press conference that also include initiatives to boost Sinclair’s aviation and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training programs, and encourage overall student retention and degree completion.

The college’s board of trustees will vote on the investments later today.

Details of the investment includes:

• $25 million for the college’s Health Sciences Center that will consolidate health care programs into one facility by expanding and renovating the existing center. The investment will allow the college to offer the most up-to-date training to not only its own students, but also for the tens of thousands of the region’s already employed health care workers who need to learn new skills, Sinclair officials said.

• $5 million for the creation of the National UAS Training and Certification Center, which college officials said will combine the strengths of Sinclair’s existing Aviation Technology programs. Plans call for construction of a two-and-a-half story free-standing “flying pavilion” for UAS flight training, which will also enhance the school’s workforce development training in addition to educational programs for enrolled students.

• $2 million for an Integrated Student Services Center that calls for renovation of two buildings where most student services are located. The renovations and additional training for Sinclair staff will enhance the college’s ability to deliver individualized services and to help students with career and academic advising, financial aid, registration, and other services that are important in attracting students and keeping them on track to graduation.

Most of these initiatives involve renovations of existing campus buildings, as opposed to new construction, said Adam Murka, a Sinclair spokesman.

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