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FOR RELEASE, TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017, AFTER 11:00 A.M. CST

For more information, contact: Susan Devero, Executive Director of Community Relations, 479-308-2289/susan.devero@acheedu.org or Neal Moore, 501-920-4787/neal.moore@sbcglobal.net

ARKANSAS COLLEGES OF HEALTH EDUCATION ANNOUNCE NEW PROJECTS/EXPANSION

(FORT SMITH, ARK.) JUNE 27, 2017 The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) announced several major projects to continue its vision to create health and research support facilities headquartered on their Fort Smith campus. The new projects will complement and enhance the existing medical school, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medical (ARCOM), who welcomes its inaugural class on July 31.

Kyle Parker, J.D., President and CEO of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, announced the building program at a meeting held Tuesday in the new medical school facility. “Our vision has always been ambitious and we accomplished the first phase of that vision with the building of a $40 million, 102,000 square foot, state-of-the-art medical school facility and a residential complex for our students,” said Parker.

“Through the generosity of an anonymous gift of $15 million, we are able to announce new facilities that help us expand our offerings and focus on service to the underserved in our state and region.” The four major projects announced at the news conference include a 60,000 square foot health sciences building, an expansion of student housing to accommodate up to 218 students, a 7,000 square foot research center and a 228-acre planned zone development for mixed use including commercial, retail, and residential housing.

Construction on the new facilities will begin this fall and completed for the 2020-21 school year.

Additional Details

Health Sciences Building

  • 60,000 square feet facility/$15 million project
  • Will allow the addition of multiple disciplines which could include various therapeutic classes and other health professions as well as master and doctorate level degrees
  • Located directly behind existing medical school facility

“The Residents” Student Housing-Phase II

  • $6 million project
  • Phase II-80 units 1 & 2 bedrooms (96 beds)
  • Phase One is completed with 84 units (122 beds) including fitness facility, dog park, swimming pool, study rooms

Research Center

  • Recently completed our Research Suite, which includes over $1 million in research equipment and supplies.
  • Housed in the medical school facility
  • Room to grow strategically based upon need of those hired
  • Memorandum of Understanding with both University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and Arkansas Tech University
  • Three types of research
    • Basic Research
    • Educational Research (our focus as a new institution will be outcomes research)
    • Clinical Research
      • Case Studies
      • Clinical Trials

Planned Zone Development

Planned zone engineering work is underway for roadway. Will be for mixed use: commercial, retail, residential housing.

  • Phase III of housing will be on the Barling Side – One three story building is planned for married students with children to live on top two floors, bottom to house restaurants, bank, day care and ice cream parlor
  • Walkable, sustainable neighborhood, front porches on homes, driveway & garages in the back to leave sidewalks for walking
  • 228-acre development

APPROVED QUOTE FOR RESEARCH FACILITY

Ross Longley, PhD

Associate Dean of Biomedical Sciences and Research

“This Research Facility at ACHE/ARCOM is a state-of-the art facility, which includes laboratories for tissue culture, imaging and protein analysis, common lab space and individual faculty lab bay areas. The laboratory is equipped with specialized equipment for faculty to conduct their research in the areas of cancer, neurodegenerative and infectious disease and developmental human anatomy. In addition, ARCOM medical students will have the opportunity to learn the foundational elements of research and apply that knowledge with hands on experience with faculty in the research laboratory.”