A Partnership in Action Rural Community College Alliance Annual Conference

Sept. 25, 2014

Presented by Kathi Hiyane-Brown, WCC President

Anne Bowen, WCC Foundation Executive Director

Overview

College overviewChallenge and opportunityPartnershipProject descriptionFuture opportunitiesQuestions and Answers

• Located in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington (County population 205,262; Bellingham 82,234)

• 47 years of quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical and life-long learning

• Whatcom serves more than 10,000 students (4,126 FTEs) annually, 6,861 seeking degrees

• WCC ranked among top 6 community colleges in Washington state (Aspen Institute)

Whatcom Community College Overview

• WCC Foundation Support– Fundraising increased from $100,000 to $1.2

million in five years– $1.4 million, approximate contributions in past

three years to support scholarships and initiatives– Staff– Board of Directors

WCC Foundation Overview

Capacity – Growth outpacing Master Plan• Capital projects funding freeze at state level• Critical need for expansion of classrooms and labs• Repurposing an existing space would seriously impact

already tight enrollment plan

The Challenge

Community partnerships with support of WCC Foundation• New role for Foundation • Explore off-site locations• Establish a team • Pursue options

The Opportunity

Groundwork reveals opportunity for Health Professions program• Frees up on-campus space• Addresses critical program expansion needs• Creates program synergies• Ability to design space to suit program

Partnership Plan Identified

History & Future: Overview of Programs• Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Practitioner,

Medical Assisting, Nursing Assistant– Approx. 300 students per year. – Maintains a graduation rate of 95% or higher. – Graduates consistently far exceed national average pass rates on

professional licensure exams. – The online PTA program has received state and national recognition

and is considered a Best Practice model.

Health Professions Program Overview

Meeting future needs of the community• Current average age of Registered Nurses in the state is

between 55 and 59, indicating a pending shortage in trained nurses.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts by 2027, 90,000 RNs will be needed in Washington…nearly double the approximately 46,300 RNs who are currently employed.

• Not only are healthcare workers in demand, the skills required are different than in years past.

Health Professions Program Overview

Keys to success• Cordata Health Professions (CHP) LLC• Site was permitted• Open book approach • Existing partnerships• Proven expertise and trust• Pro-bono support

Partnership in Action

Innovative Public-Private Partnership - Allows for an accelerated construction timeline, while providing flexibility to raise private capital support over time.

HPEC Project Overview

• Corner of Cordata Pkwy and Stuart• New Facility 28,502 sq. ft.

HPEC Project Overview

Project Site 96,000 sq. ft.

Phase I 28,502 sq. ft.

Potential Phase II13,000 sq. ft.

• Normal state capital construction timelines can take 4-6 years

• Partner inception to construction complete in 18 months

HPEC Project Overview

• Leveraged State and Federal Grants & Private Support

• Community Partnerships– K-12– Other Colleges– Healthcare Providers, including PeaceHealth – Other Agencies • Fire, Paramedics, EMT, etc.

HPEC Project Overview

• Design simultaneous with shell construction• CHP LLC leases building to Foundation

– Foundation leases to WCC– $2 million in Tenant Improvements by College– Grant-funded equipment– Foundation purchases building via bond financing– Five-year lease with four renewals– Expected full ownership by 2027

HPEC Project Overview

• Enhanced Learning Experience – Simulating real-world environments to build skills and

increase patient safety• Critical thinking and team building• MA Clinical Setting

– Reception waiting area, billing and coding desk, lab area, two fully enclosed patient rooms

• PTA & Massage– Mimics Clinical Environment– Shared Equipment

• Nursing– RN Simulations Now & Future

– Synergies – Cross & Interdisciplinary

New Building Features

Other Benefits• Offset to clinical bottlenecks• Opportunities to increase

continuing education– Shared community simulation

lab– Community-wide disaster

training and preparedness, and triage center

New Building Features

Simulation Labs

Classrooms, Labs, Study Spaces

Classrooms, Labs, Study Spaces

• Foundation will support equipment, curriculum, scholarships

• Clinics – Community & Student benefit– Rehabilitation Clinic:

Massage & PTA– Nurse-Managed Medical/Wellness

Clinic

• Community Partnerships– Health Services Academy (K-12)

Future Opportunities

Additional Expansion & Impact

Health Professions Education CenterOpened for Classes Fall 2013