Project Grant CE147029

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY: ADDRESS: 1184 W. MAIN ST. DECATUR, IL 62522-2039 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: RUBY JAMES, VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS: (217) 424-5071 EMAIL ADDRESS: RUBYJAMES@MILLIKIN.EDU WEBSITE ADDRESS: HTTPS://MILLIKIN.EDU/ WITH CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDING, MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL OF NURSING ITS OWN DEDICATED BUILDING TO CREATE FACULTY OFFICES, CLASSROOMS, AND CLINICAL AND SIMULATION LABORATORIES THAT WILL MIRROR MEDICAL OFFICES AND HOSPITAL PATIENT ROOMS. THESE ADVANCEMENTS WILL INCLUDE A CONTROL ROOM IN WHICH FACULTY CAN MONITOR A NURSE-PATIENT SIMULATION VIA COMPUTER AND USE A MICROPHONE TO TALK TO STUDENTS AS THEY WORK. THIS RENOVATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE PRE-BRIEF, SIMULATION, AND DEBRIEF AREAS AS WELL AS CAMERAS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT SO THAT STUDENT PERFORMANCES DURING THE SIMULATION CAN BE OBSERVED AND REVIEWED BY INSTRUCTORS AND CLASSMATES. TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND FACULTY, AS WELL AS REMAIN ABREAST OF BEST STANDARDS OF PRACTICE IN SIMULATION EDUCATION, THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO UPGRADE CURRENT EQUIPMENT AND CREATE DEDICATED SIMULATION ENVIRONMENTS AT MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS. FURTHER ENHANCEMENT OF OUR FACILITIES WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO A REALISTIC, BUT ALSO AN INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE PART AND EXCEL IN HANDS-ON PERFORMANCE LEARNING, A HALLMARK OF THE UNIVERSITY. A DEDICATED FACILITY WILL ENHANCE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES, IMPROVE FACULTY AND STAFF EFFICIENCY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND INCREASE OVERALL COLLABORATION. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES TWO CRITICAL PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS: THE PROJECTED NURSING SHORTAGE AND THE EXODUS OF COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. A NEW FACILITY WITH UP-TO-DATE CLINICAL AND SIMULATION LABORATORIES WILL ADDRESS THE NEED FOR NURSES AND CREATE A STRONG PIPELINE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR OUR VALUED CO MMUNITY PARTNERS, AS WELL AS OTHER HOSPITALS AND CLINICAL SETTINGS ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THESE MUCH-NEEDED TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADES WILL ALSO HELP ATTRACT AND ENCOURAGE COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS, BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND NONTRADITIONAL, TO STAY IN ILLINOIS FOR THEIR EDUCATION.