Chickasaw Nation gives $5M toward new East Central University nursing building
The Chickasaw Nation has donated $5 million toward the construction of a new building at East Central University in Ada that will house ECU’s nursing and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs and allow its nursing program to expand.
The gift from the Ada-based Chickasaw Nation will be combined with $7.3 million from Oklahoma’s portion of American Rescue Plan Act money, which will allow the university to begin development on the project.
“We cannot thank Governor (Bill) Anoatubby and the Chickasaw Nation enough for their gift and support in the growth of ECU and the School of Nursing,” ECU President Wendell Godwin said. “This new facility will help us educate and graduate twice as many nursing students, making ECU the premier nursing program in southern Oklahoma.”
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ECU’s nursing program now is housed in the campus’ oldest building, Science Hall, which was built in 1910. The proposed site for the new building is north of the campus’ current Physical and Environmental Science Center. Darcy Duncan, the ECU nursing school’s director, said with the new building, ECU will be able to admit about 150 nursing students per year, and that by fall 2026, the university will have between 375 and 400 students in the program.
"We believe it is important to support this new facility which will enable ECU to meet the growing need for highly trained nurses as well as the need to develop STEM programs that keep pace with advances in science and technology," said Anoatubby, who’s been the Chickasaw Nation’s leader since 1987. "This investment in education is sure to bring returns in the form of students who are better prepared to meet challenges, seize opportunities and become industry leaders."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chickasaw Nation gives $5M toward new nursing building at East Central
