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Initial Construction Continues on Lees-McRae College’s May School of Nursing; Linked Live Feed Included!

by Madison V. Fisler

Oct. 31, 2013. Lees-McRae College is getting a new addition to its campus very soon; one that will bring an enhancement to its already broad curriculum for students. 

Construction is already underway on the brand new May School of Nursing and Allied Health, a facility that will house expanded science and health-related programs classrooms, laboratory space and new technology to the students in the departments. The project broke ground in June, and is projected to be completed in one year.

This is a huge expansion from Lees-McRae’s already broad curriculum which includes athletic training and other allied health programs, biology, nutrition and health sciences. 

“We have several proposed programs including pre-licensure nursing programs, emergency care services and health care administration,” said Megan Hall, director of communications at Lees-McRae College.

“We definitely want to expand our health-related programs.”

Currently, nursing programs for registered nurses are already offered at the school’s extended campuses, however, no four-year nursing degrees were offered at Lees-McRae. 

Students are being allowed to apply to Lees-McRae College to join the proposed nursing program, as the program requires two years of prerequisites before applying to the program. This will give sufficient time for the building to be completed before the students need to use it. 

“The running estimate for completion is about a year, and as of now we are running slightly ahead of schedule,” said Hall. 

The completed project will be a single, 18,000 square foot structure located on West Main Street. The project is a product of a generous gift from benefactors Daniel and Dianne May. Dianne is a member of the Lees-McRae Board of Trustees and sits on the Enrollment Management and Communications committee.

Also currently under construction is the Lauritsen Technical Theatre and Design Studio, also on Lees-McRae’s campus. 

From a press release:

Lees-McRae College razed the dilapidated Center Theatre building in July[2012] to make room for the new Lauritsen Technical Theatre and Design Studio. Thanks to a generous commitment from the Lauritsen family and several other friends of the College, the performing arts department will soon have a new facility for set building and technical theatre work.

Click here for the live feed of construction. 

Check out our photos of the construction already underway at Lees-McRae. 

Photos by Ken Ketchie

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