ADA, Okla. (KXII) – East Central University has received $30 million to complete the Dan Hays STEM Center and School of Nursing.
$13 million came from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), an organization created from Oklahoma’s legal battle against Big Tobacco. Their lawsuit earnings are dedicated to improving health within the state.
“We also invest in community grants and cancer research and healthcare access in rural parts of the state,” said Thomas Larson, TSET’s director of public information and government affairs.
This year, TSET awarded legacy grants to 14 projects developing the healthcare workforce.
“A lot of those focus on healthcare access, so making sure you have healthcare professionals in all parts of the state and that people are able to get in to see them,” Larson said.
ECU’s project was a perfect candidate. The university currently accepts 50 students a semester into their nursing program. With the new building set to be complete in July, that number is expected to triple.
“It gives us more space for nurses,” said Darcy Duncan, ECU’s School of Nursing director. “Right now we’re restricted how many we can admit each semester by what we have. This is going to allow us to accept more.”
The new building will feature advanced educational technology.
“It’s going to be a top-of-the-line simulation lab, skills labs, equipment in the classrooms. This is going to help make them successful,” Duncan said.
Another $17 million was gifted to the university from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. With $30 million, these investments cover a large portion of their $41 million capital project.
“We are also continuing to accept donations and other gifts from members of the community and elsewhere to finish out the funding for this building,” said Jeffrey Gibson, ECU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“Each nurse touches the lives innumerable patients each year and those lives go on to touch others,” Gibson said.
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