“It’s as big as they come.”
That was the perspective from ESU Foundation President Shane Shivley after the WS and EC Jones Testamentary Trust granted Emporia State $5 million for its nursing and student wellness center, but Shivley says this isn’t just because the gift is the largest in university history.
This is the latest move to bring the nursing program to campus. It has been 13 months since Emporia State announced plans to move the nursing department from Newman Regional Health to ESU. The initial plan was to renovate part of Central Morse Hall, which had been vacant since 2019, but the plan changed later in the year to build a completely new facility. Once that plan changed, Newman Regional Health’s Board of Trustees voted in November to maintain the current arrangement through the end of 2025.
This is also a big step for the Jones Trust. Advisory Committee member Greg Bachman says, “Participation in this project allows the Trust to support the mission of improving health care and education in Coffey, Lyon and Osage counties.”
Monday’s announcement follows word the ESU Foundation is allocating an additional $3 million in unrestricted funding over the next three years, including projects like the nursing and student wellness center. It also follows the Kansas Legislature’s $11 million in funds, including bonding authority for the new facility.
