State Representative V. George Carey, a member of the influential House of Representatives' Capital Infrastructure Committee (Bond Bill Committee), visited the Beebe School of Nursing on Tuesday, September 21. The visit provided the school faculty, staff, and students an opportunity to thank Representative Carey for his efforts in obtaining a $500,000 grant from the Bond Bill for the School.

This funding will be used for a $3.5 million expansion of the School of Nursing to provide additional classrooms and a larger library.

State Senator Gary Simpson also was instrumental in gaining the grant for the School of Nursing. Congressman Michael Castle was able to secure $273,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the project. This funding paid for design work for the expansion. Beebe representatives met with Senators Tom Carper and Joseph Biden over the summer to request additional support.

The School needs to expand to accommodate the number of students who are qualified and interested in pursuing a nursing career. More than 60 qualified candidates applied for admission to the Beebe School of Nursing in 2004, however, the school could admit only 30 due to facility constraints. The expansion would add classrooms and laboratory space by eliminating dormitory rooms, which are not essential since most students elect to live off campus. The additional space would allow the School to double its admission.