inPractice - Fall 2016 - 11

More than 20 private group study rooms offer interactive technology and white board surfaces for collaborative learning outside of the classroom. Each classroom offers a unique blend of technology to create dynamic, active learning environments. dedicated spaces for each of the health sciences, allowing students across disciplines to be immersed in a safe, but authentic, health care environment to practice and hone their clinical skills - in addition to the many clinical hours students spend at their external clinical sites. The New Campus Experience The inaugural semester of learning is well underway at the new campus, and the vibrancy is palpable. "I really like the energy of the new campus," said Reggie Jackson, Radiography '17. "Everyone is really excited about the different experience here. The old college felt more somber. Everybody is interacting with each other and walking around with a lot of energy. Even the instructors, and the staff as a whole, are upbeat about the new campus." Compared to the College's most recent home on Lime Street, the new campus provides the opportunity to offer the 11 inPractice | FALL 2016 In addition to providing fresh, healthy meals at any hour, the 200-seat dining area is a great place to hang out or study. amenities that have become synonymous with the modern college campus. Daily lunch service in the main dining area in the Stoudt Building includes paninis, salads, burgers, cheesesteaks - all fresh and made to order. The same area also includes a self-service "convenience store" that's always open, giving students the chance to grab a quick bite or beverage between classes, no matter the time. The Cooper Building is home to a café that serves a full line of Starbucks beverages, as well as pastries, snacks and "grab-andgo" meal options. The campus also includes a Health and Wellness Suite, offering rejuvenation spaces to unplug and unwind, fitness classes and equipment to promote a healthy lifestyle, and basic medical care and screening services for students. And the campus has the potential to reach beyond just the College Community - from meeting rooms to the 460-seat High Auditorium, there are spaces for the College and the community alike to gather. But all of these bells and whistles are overshadowed by one simple, but pervasive, aspect of the campus: space. There's more than enough space for all of the College's classes, without having to shuffle classes from room to room throughout the semester to make sure there's a seat for every student. And there's space for students to study and collaborate - from the open Atrium lounge, to the more than 20 private collaboration rooms for group study. "Before, even if a student wanted to stay on campus after classes were over, there was nowhere for them to go," explained Scott Lokey, Director of Facilities. "Now, with this beautiful campus that's equipped with everything they need to be successful, they want to stay. And we have plenty of places for them to call home." The campus even includes space to grow. More than 50,000 square feet has been set aside for future expansions as enrollment grows and new programs are added. The Future Though the opening of the new campus marks the end of a marathon planning and construction project, for PA College, it's just the beginning. "The campus is what makes this moment special, but the campus isn't what makes this College special," explained Ellen Wylie, Vice President of Advancement. The new campus gives the College the physical space to transform higher ed, and become the leading institution for health care education. As Dr. Simcox describes, "Now that we have the building, we need to implement the strategy, and part of that is the vision around which this whole campus was designed. One in which we are all engaged, we are all learners. And we allow for the creativity, and we allow for the discussion, and we allow for the questions. We have to move away from memorization in the classrooms and allow students to ask the kinds of questions that really will get at the heart of great patient care, and as employees, great questions that will get us to the point of being the College that we need to be. And if we can accomplish that, and do it by 2022, that would be great! But we need to have that vision of greatness."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of inPractice - Fall 2016