By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University broke ground on expanding Stroup Hall to address the growing need for Kansas health care workers.
FHSU President Tisa Mason introduced speakers at the ceremony for the $15.4 million project that will add 30,000 square feet to the nursing building.
"This commitment to education and health care lays the foundation for a brighter future and in some cases, the very survival of our rural communities," Mason said.
Stroup Hall opened in 1981 and has played a vital role in nursing education as the demand for health care professionals in rural areas continues to grow.
The project will unite the Departments of Nursing and Allied Health under one roof, placing Allied Health on the second floor and providing state-of-the-art spaces for learning and training.
FHSU Nursing Chairwoman Jenny Manry and Allied Health Chairwoman Christa Beiker said the expansion will allow the two departments to collaborate more closely in training the next generation of students, including those studying from home.
"[Our new hybrid program] strengthens our ability to prepare highly qualified nurses, while ensuring that rural communities throughout Kansas have access to health care professionals they urgently need," Manry said.
"We want them to get out there, hit the ground running, and be successful and competent out in the clinical environment," Beiker said. "A lot of our students stay at the hospitals where they need to go for clinicals. They're filling those voids."
Mason said enrollment in the nursing program is expected to grow by more than 65% and in medical diagnostic imaging by more than 40% with the expansion.
The project, funded by the Kansas Legislature, will include simulation labs, updated classrooms and hands-on training opportunities, with completion expected in December 2026, Mason said.
Jeff Briggs, dean of FHSU’s College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, said Sen. Jerry Moran helped secure $3 million in federal funding.
"Their support signifies their commitment to not only our students but also the hospitals, the clinics and care facilities here in western Kansas and throughout the state," Briggs said.
At the ceremony, Sen. Rick Billinger said the day was not only about breaking ground but about planting seeds of service, while highlighting the critical role of nurses.
"Together, we are building more than a facility. We are building a legacy," Billinger said.
In a previous interview with FHSU Alumni Director Kim Cebula, Briggs said annual admissions to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program have grown from 60 to 80 students in 15 years.
SEE RELATED STORY: FHSU to expand Stroup Hall, nursing program for students
Briggs recognized the support of Hays Medical Center, several critical access hospitals, and nearby technical and community colleges.
You can follow the FHSU Department of Nursing and Department of Allied Health on Facebook.
