{"id":52215,"date":"2024-10-22T12:36:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T17:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/news\/?p=52215"},"modified":"2024-11-13T10:44:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T16:44:07","slug":"grand-opening-event-welcomes-ipe-building-to-tarleton-state-fort-worth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/news\/grand-opening-event-welcomes-ipe-building-to-tarleton-state-fort-worth\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Opening Event Welcomes IPE Building to Tarleton State Fort Worth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FORT WORTH, Texas \u2014 Tarleton State University\u2019s thriving Fort Worth campus along Chisholm Trail Parkway celebrated the grand opening of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Building on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IPE
Top left: The sun rises over the IPE Building. Top right: Dr. Rachael Capua officially cuts the ribbon on the new facility. Bottom left: A capacity crowd listens as Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker makes her comments. Bottom right: Students in one of the new spaces in the IPE Building.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Featuring more than 100,000 square feet of classroom and specialized lab space, the new $66 million facility aims to increase access to quality healthcare and education in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis state-of-the-art facility will have an undeniable impact on the medical and educational professions in the region,\u201d said Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp. \u201cExpanding access to these key programs is essential. Today’s monumental achievement makes it clear that Tarleton State’s growing Fort Worth campus is prepared to meet the workforce needs of the thriving city it calls home.\u201d

Classroom, laboratory and collaboration areas are housed in the IPE Building, along with high-fidelity simulation and clinical skills suites. These learning spaces will generate hands-on training opportunities and instruction for students. The building also houses a room providing seating for 250 guests to host community-wide events, workshops, lectures and programming.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday is an extraordinary milestone for Tarleton State University and The Texas A&M System,\u201d said President Dr. James Hurley. \u201cThis new building will provide best-in-class teaching, learning and research spaces to continue our development of the Fort Worth campus master plan. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our legislators, the Board of Regents, Chancellor Sharp, Mayor Parker and the City of Fort Worth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the additional space, Tarleton State can expand existing offerings in nursing, nutrition science, communication sciences and disorders, kinesiology, psychology, teacher education, and medical laboratory sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasing the supply of medical professionals in the region is critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to be a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare practitioners to Fort Worth and its neighboring communities,\u201d added Dr. Hurley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, there are 391 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in Texas. Nationally, 76 million people reside in HPSAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarleton State recently announced a formal feasibility study and a search for the planning dean for a College of Osteopathic Medicine in Stephenville. Overall, Texas ranks 47th in patient-physician ratio, something which Tarleton State is equipped to address. The addition of the IPE Building will contribute to the university\u2019s commitment to foundational healthcare professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are a university striving to enhance the quality of life while delivering a life-changing education,\u201d said Vice President for External Operations and Dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth Dr. Rachael Capua. \u201cThis remarkable facility will allow us to expand opportunities for our students as we strengthen our commitment to bolstering interprofessional education and healthcare. We\u2019re going beyond what is known to shape what is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarleton State has served the Fort Worth community since 1978 when Dr. Lamar Johanson developed and launched the medical laboratory science program in downtown. The program started with eight students and has evolved to become nationally ranked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Classes started for those inaugural Texans on West Myrtle Street before moving to the Richard C. Schaffer Building on Enderly Place in the 1990s. Students then attended at the Hickman Building on Camp Bowie Boulevard starting in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As enrollment increased in Fort Worth, securing a permanent location to accommodate long-term growth was essential. The campus along Chisholm Trail Parkway welcomed its first facility \u2014 the Campus Administration Building \u2014 in 2019. The start of the expansion was made possible thanks to 80 acres of land donated by Walton Global Handlings Ltd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fall, Tarleton State introduced first- and second-year courses in Fort Worth for the first time, adding new course offerings for 24 undergraduate programs. Overall, more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are available for students from all backgrounds, including working adults, community college graduates and returning students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTarleton State\u2019s new IPE Building will be pivotal in addressing Fort Worth\u2019s healthcare needs by expanding access to high-quality medical training and ensuring we have the skilled professionals to meet the workforce demands of the 12th largest city and fastest-growing city in the nation,\u201d said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. \u201cThis investment will not only transform the lives of students but will have a lasting, positive impact on our community for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current enrollment at Tarleton State Fort Worth is approximately 2,600.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction dollars for the IPE Building came from the Permanent University Fund and are part of a systemwide capital plan approved in 2019 by The Texas A&M System Board of Regents. Perkins&Will was the architect and Holder Construction the builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n