SHSU $14M Nursing Upgrade Doubles Capacity

**Sam Houston State University Kicks Off $14 Million Nursing Expansion to Tackle Texas Shortage**

**HUNTSVILLE, TX –** Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has initiated a significant $14 million upgrade to its nursing program facilities, with construction officially underway since early May 2024. This monumental investment aims to more than double the program’s enrollment capacity, directly addressing the critical nursing shortage facing Texas. The expansion is slated for completion by Fall 2025.

The comprehensive project includes the construction of a brand-new, two-story building spanning approximately 25,000 square feet at the Lone Star College-Kingwood campus. This location is a primary hub for SHSU’s clinical nursing instruction. Concurrently, the second floor of the College of Health Sciences building on SHSU’s main Huntsville campus is undergoing a 10,000-square-foot renovation, exclusively dedicated to nursing program resources.

“This is a pivotal moment for healthcare education in Texas and for our university,” said Alisa White, President of Sam Houston State University. “The unprecedented growth of our nursing program, made possible by the state legislature’s support, ensures that we are not just educating nurses, but preparing highly skilled professionals ready to meet the urgent demands of our communities. We are building the future of healthcare, one nurse at a time.”

When the SHSU School of Nursing program first launched in 2019, it was equipped to accommodate roughly 60 students per semester across both its LSC-Kingwood and Huntsville locations. The program proudly celebrated its first graduating cohort in Spring 2021. With the new facilities, the LSC-Kingwood site alone will boast the capacity for 90 students per semester by Fall 2025, while the Huntsville location will maintain its 60 students per semester. This expansion will bring the total program capacity to an impressive 150 students per semester – a more than 150% increase from its initial enrollment.

The substantial $14 million investment was directly allocated by the Texas Legislature in 2023, underscoring the state’s commitment to bolstering its healthcare workforce. The funding is being channeled into creating state-of-the-art educational resources, including high-fidelity simulation labs designed for students to practice real-world medical scenarios in a safe, controlled environment. These labs will be complemented by dedicated debriefing rooms, advanced health assessment and skills labs, modern classrooms, and new faculty offices.

“The facilities we are creating will provide an unparalleled learning environment for our nursing students,” stated Dr. Shelley White, Director of the SHSU School of Nursing. “Our focus is on equipping future nurses with the best possible training using cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences. This expansion means more qualified nurses entering the workforce faster, directly impacting patient care across Texas.”

Texas continues to face a significant shortage of registered nurses, a challenge exacerbated by an aging population and increasing healthcare demands. Educational institutions like SHSU play a critical role in mitigating this deficit. By substantially increasing the number of graduates, SHSU’s expanded nursing program is positioned to become a vital pipeline for skilled healthcare professionals, contributing directly to the health and well-being of Texans statewide.

The project reinforces Sam Houston State University’s dedication to providing high-quality, relevant educational programs that meet the needs of the state and its residents. Future nurses will benefit from a modern, comprehensive training environment designed to prepare them for the complexities of contemporary healthcare.