Building professions: Health Sciences Center at UHCL Pearland Campus

Educating a growing workforce

June 23, 2017 | Staff

UHCL Pearland Campus
 


Nearly 8,000 Pearland residents, or about 15 percent of Pearland’s work-age population, work in health-related fields, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates. City leaders anticipate profound growth in this segment.

Health professionals are moving to the area because of a lower cost of living, better quality of life and easy commute to the Texas Medical Center; as well as the continued expansion of medical facilities to the Pearland area.

Health Sciences CenterAs professional health careers continue to grow, so does the need for a trained workforce in nursing, medical technology, administration and other
fields. UHCL Pearland Campus, created in collaboration with the City of Pearland in 2010, meets the needs of many including those building careers in the health fields.

The relationship between the university and the city has been more symbiosis than partnership: In April, UHCL broke ground on a $24.6 million Health Sciences and Classroom Building made possible by 2015 legislative funding and the support of Pearland advocates, Mayor Tom Reid, state Rep. Ed Thompson and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce.

The facility, slated to open in spring 2019, will allow UHCL to expand enrollment to its successful health-science programs, notably the RN-to-BSN and Licensed Professional Counselors programs. Future plans for the building include opening a satellite operation of UHCL’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

Nationwide, healthcare jobs are expected to grow 26 to 35 percent by 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, making it the fastest-growing employment segment. Fortunately, there is a large enough footprint at the Pearland campus to accommodate future growth.

Features
  • 69,539 square-feet
  • 3 stories
  • Simulated hospital rooms
  • Nurses’ and pharmacy station
  • 100-seat tiered lecture hall
  • 3 large 60 plus-seat classrooms
  • 42-seat active learning classroom
  • 48-station computer teaching lab
  • 32-seat biology lab
  • 30-seat chemistry lab
  • 19 faculty offices
  • Private rooms and study zones

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