The $2 billion Connect NC bond proposal that will go to voters in North Carolina’s March 15 primary election includes $70 million for a new Health Sciences building at Appalachian State University. Appalachian Chancellor Sheri Everts discusses here what the Beaver College of Health Sciences does for students and for health care in North Carolina.

By Dr. Sheri N. Everts
Chancellor,  Appalachian State University

BOONE – Recognizing the growing demand for health professionals was a critical need for North Carolina, Appalachian State University created the College of Health Sciences in 2010.

The first new college on the campus in over 40 years reached an important milestone this past April when it was named the Beaver College of Health Sciences in honor of alumnus and health care industry pioneer Donald C. Beaver.

Early support for the college came in 2012 with a $2 million gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. This gift made possible the development of programs in the new college, including the Institute for Health and Human Services. The vision of the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) is to become the preeminent and most comprehensive college of health professions in Western North Carolina.

Led by alumnus and Founding Dean Fred Whitt, the BCHS includes approximately 160 faculty and staff serving 3,300 students majoring in one of 10 undergraduate and five graduate degree programs.

These programs are in the areas of exercise science, nursing, communication sciences and disorders, nutrition, health care management, social work, athletic training, recreation management, health & physical education and health promotion. In addition, the BCHS was recently approved to begin the Master of Science in Nursing degree and hopes to gain approval for an online Master of Health Administration degree program next year.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, a key partner in the college’s development, has generously agreed to provide the land where a new academic building will house the BCHS. This 203,000 square foot building costing approximately $79 million will provide state-of–the-art teaching and research facilities that promote inter-professional education of future healthcare professionals.

Currently, programs in the college are located in six buildings including rental space off campus. Funds from the NC General Assembly over the past two years have supported planning and design, and Appalachian is extremely appreciative of this critical investment.

Since its creation from existing programs across campus, the BCHS has experienced almost 60 percent growth in student enrollment in only four years. The college plans to add degree programs in critically needed health care professions, including such areas as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nurse practitioner.

A new collaborative partnership with Wake Forest School of Medicine has resulted in a Physician Assistant (PA) degree program in Boone, expanded inter-professional education, and extended clinical training for Appalachian nursing students at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The Beaver College of Health Sciences has a regional focus, but is developing a national reputation for excellence. The college operates the Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, whose research has been published and recognized internationally.

Nursing is the newest degree program, and in only eight years, it has nurses practicing in 55 counties across North Carolina.

Some of the college’s programs see 90 percent of graduates finding employment in their fields within a few months of graduation, and the vast majority of these are working to provide better health care in North Carolina.

Appalachian’s newest college is making a difference in the lives of our students and enhancing health and quality of life in our state and beyond.