Louisiana State University of Alexandria officially broke ground today on its new Health Education Campus, marking the beginning of a transformational project designed to address the shortage of nurses and allied health professionals, one of central Louisiana’s most pressing challenges.
The new $43M, four-story, 78,266-square-foot facility in downtown Alexandria is the culmination of years of collaboration between LSUA, local healthcare providers, business leaders, elected officials, and community partners who recognized that solving the region’s workforce shortage would require a bold, long-term investment in healthcare education.
The idea grew from a healthcare summit convened by LSUA, where physicians, hospital administrators, and healthcare leaders challenged the university to help meet the region’s growing demand for healthcare professionals. Rather than making incremental changes, Chancellor Paul Coreil embraced a larger vision. His challenge to the university was simple: “Be Bold.” That vision became a plan to dramatically expand healthcare education by creating the capacity to graduate twice as many nurses and allied health professionals each year.
“This project represents exactly what a public university should do,” Coreil said. “Our community identified a critical need, and together we built a solution. The LSUA Health Education Campus will help educate more healthcare professionals, strengthen our regional workforce, and improve healthcare access for generations to come.”
The foundation for the project was established by Haywood Joiner, former Dean of LSUA’s College of Health and Human Services, whose leadership helped shape both the academic vision and the regional partnerships that made the campus possible.
The Health Education Campus will become home to LSUA’s School of Nursing and programs in Healthcare Administration, Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, and Radiologic Technology, while also housing partnered programs with the LSU School of Dentistry in Dental Hygiene and LSU Eunice in Pre-Respiratory Care and Pre-Surgical Technology. Designed by Ashe Broussard Weinzettle Architects and Tipton Associates, the building will include active-learning classrooms, advanced simulation laboratories, collaborative study spaces, and a 240-seat auditorium.
The project has been made possible through an extraordinary partnership among public and private supporters who recognized the importance of investing in Louisiana’s future healthcare workforce. LSUA acknowledged the financial support of the LSUA Foundation, Mayor Jacques Roy and the City of Alexandria, Bill Fontenot and Cleco, Monte Wilson and CHRISTUS Health, Roy Martin, III and Martin Sustainable Resources, Vernon Jones and the Rapides Regional Medical Center, Joe Rozier and The Rapides Foundation, The Community Foundation, Central Management, Louisiana Charities Trust, and the full political support the Central Louisiana delegation of the Louisiana legislature, Jack McFarland, LSU’s Danny Mahaffey, Roger Husser, Chris Herring, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Economic projections estimate the expanded campus will help support approximately 700 additional healthcare positions throughout central Louisiana while generating an estimated $176.5 million in annual economic activity. More importantly, it will allow more Louisiana students to prepare for healthcare careers close to home and provide regional employers with the skilled workforce they have said they need.
Construction will begin immediately, with the Health Education Campus serving as the centerpiece of LSUA’s expanding healthcare education efforts. Once completed, the facility will significantly increase the university’s capacity to educate nurses and allied health professionals, helping local hospitals and healthcare providers build the workforce needed to care for central Louisiana for decades to come.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit – Nathan Parish
Pictured [L-R] – Jeff Langston, Bill Fontenot, Lance Maxwell, Wade Rousse, Deron Thaxton, Jacques Roy, Elizabeth Beard, Paul Coreil, Kelly Pepper, Valencia Jones, Mike Nichols, Shane Higdon