University of Southern Mississippi College of Nursing Set to Break Ground on Asbury Hall

The College of Nursing at The University of Southern Mississippi will move significantly closer to seeing a longtime dream become a reality with the official groundbreaking of Asbury Hall set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The event will begin inside the Martha R. Tatum Theatre of the University's Theatre and Dance Building, then move to the building site for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, University President Rodney D. Bennett, and Dr. Katherine Nugent, dean of the College of Nursing, are scheduled to provide remarks about the new facility which will be located on the western edge of the Hattiesburg campus near the Sorority Village.

“The groundbreaking ceremony will truly be a great day for everyone associated with the College of Nursing - the culmination of a dream,” said Nugent. “The College of Nursing is a signature program at The University of Southern Mississippi that has a legacy of providing quality nursing education and is poised to respond to the demands of an evolving health system.” 

The $31-million, state-of-the-art facility will increase the square footage dedicated to the College of Nursing by 135 percent, providing much-needed space for faculty and students and replacing a facility that can no longer meet the requirements of nursing education.

The nursing program's new building will allow for an increase in nursing enrollment from the current 550 students to more than 800 and expand new programs in the College of Nursing through student interactive areas, an enlarged and enhanced clinical simulation lab, computer labs, and classrooms that will promote the acquisition of knowledge in a positive and interactive learning environment.

“This building will provide the College of Nursing at Southern Miss the tools it needs to continue to make a difference in the lives of Mississippi residents by educating entry-level nurses, advanced practice nurses, nurse faculty, nurse researchers and nurse executives,” said Nugent. “A new building will empower nursing faculty for instructional excellence and will further impact our ability to recruit qualified faculty and students.”

In January, 2012 the USM Foundation announced an $8 million fundraising campaign to help construct a new facility for the nursing program. The College of Nursing Building Campaign got off to a strong start with a $4 million commitment from the Asbury Foundation of Hattiesburg, a gift that led to the naming of Asbury Hall. To date, the campaign has raised more than $6 million toward the original goal.

In addition to the $8 million in private contributions and $4 million in federal grants, the University will utilize $20 million in state appropriations through bond funding to complete the financing of the construction project.

For more information about the College of Nursing Building Campaign call 601.266.5210.