08/05/10 kb local, statewide

HAYS, Kan. -- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $250,000 grant to Fort Hays State University's College of Health and Life Sciences for the Nursing Equipment and Technology Enhancement Project. The $250,000 grant represents 90 percent of the total funding of the project, with FHSU contributing the additional 10 percent.

The project equipment purchases begin immediately and will be fully implemented by the end of the fall 2010 semester, said Dr. Jeff Briggs, dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences, who thanked U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, for his help in gaining the funds.

"FHSU, due to its location and mission, has been assigned the responsibility of expanding nursing and other healthcare services," said Briggs. "The $250,000 will help that initiative with needed equipment and teaching aids."

"Once again Jerry Moran has stepped forward to provide for the educational needs of Kansans," said Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president. "This is just one more in the series of actions he has taken to help FHSU provide training so that personnel are available to deliver excellent health care to the people of western Kansas."

The congressionally-directed grant will purchase equipment to enhance the university's ability to attract and prepare healthcare professionals in the state of Kansas. Briggs said the project consists of three components and involves the Department of Nursing, the Department of Biological Sciences and the Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Technology.

The first component is developing a two-way interactive classroom studio that will be used in distance learning for nursing and other healthcare education. The second includes computerized simulators to be used in training nurses and other healthcare professionals, and the third component enhances the biotechnology teaching equipment that is used in the education of a variety of health-related areas of study.

The new equipment will help FHSU better serve the needs of its service area in the delivery of educational opportunities that meet the growing need for trained healthcare professionals, said Briggs. Upon approval, bids will be solicited, purchases finalized and equipment put to use in conjunction with various academic courses and research projects.

For more information, contact Briggs at (785) 628-4200 or by e-mail to jbriggs@fhsu.edu.