Colorado lawmakers tour campus and future site of health sciences complex
Members of the Colorado Capital Development Committee, along with other state legislators including Representative Barbara McLachlan and Senator Don Coram, visited Fort Lewis College (FLC) to tour campus and see the future home of the College’s health sciences and athletics complex. The complex, which will grow from a renovation and expansion of Whalen Gymnasium, has already received just over $3 million in design funding from the state.
A new health sciences complex will add classrooms and research space for Fort Lewis College’s Exercise Science, Public Health, and other programs that train students for healthcare careers. The College is also beginning a new Pre-Health Certificate program in fall 2018 to help students get what they need to pursue healthcare-related education and jobs after graduation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in healthcare-related fields are anticipated to grow by nearly 4 million by 2026. A FLC degree is valuable everywhere, and many of these future healthcare workers will be needed in more rural areas, like the Four Corners and the reservations and villages that are home to the over 1,100 Native Americans and Alaska Natives studying at Fort Lewis College.
The health sciences complex project will be split into two phases. Phase one will focus on expanding and improving the academic facilities. Phase two will improve parts of Whalen Gym for Skyhawk Athletics, including the 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Regular Season ChampionSkyhawk Men’s Basketball team, which is coming off their third straight invitation to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
In addition to seeking design and construction funding from the state, Fort Lewis College and the FLC Foundation are pursuing private funding and corporate partnerships for the new facility. Those interested in becoming a part of this new facility that will be so important to the future of Fort Lewis College, the region and beyond should contact Vice President for Advancement Mark Jastorff at 970-247-7074.
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