Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - •Address: 3221 McKelvey Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 •Project Director Name: William Hubble, Ph.D., District Dean, Natural Sciences •Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax): 314-644-9311 •Email Address: whubble1@stlcc.edu •Website Address, if applicable: https://stlcc.edu/campus-life-community/our-locations/centers-of-excellence/nursing-and-health-sciences.aspx Description of the Project: St. Louis Community College (STLCC) is meeting the healthcare education and training needs of the future through the taxpayer-supported construction of a Health Sciences Center on its Florissant Valley campus. Florissant Valley serves a large, diverse area, including Ferguson and one of the largest Promise Zones in the country. The campus’ student population for Spring 2023 was 65% self-identified as Black/African American. The moveable equipment supported through this funding will allow for increased capacity in the Respiratory Care and Dental Hygienist career programs to be expanded for the under-construction Health Science Center on the Florissant Valley campus. The Respiratory Care program will provide a 2-year Associate degree with an option for a recently adopted STLCC 4-year degree in Respiratory Care. The STLCC Respiratory Therapist program seeks to meet the strong demand for graduates in a rapidly expanding field. On the pathway to Dental Hygienist, students may complete certification qualifying as a Dental Assistant which aids early employment that helps with a student’s ability to persist to a degree. The credential as a Dental Assistant can help with employer compensation discussions and maintains a gateway to progressive career options. The Dental Hygienist program grants a 2-year Associate degree and can be a stepping-stone to additional Nursing degree options at STLCC and elsewhere. This is another fast growing profession (8% annual growth, above the average 5%, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook). Proposed Services: The moveable equipment needed to expand student healthcare training in respiratory care and dental hygiene to the Florissant Valley campus, requires investment that meets high professional standards and exceeds existing training standards at the Forest Park educational facilities. The technology-driven equipment in both areas translates across multiple healthcare skills. Population groups to be served: St. Louis Community College (STLCC) serves a diverse and geographically-wide ranging student body in the STL-IL MSA. The Florissant Valley campus serves a predominantly Black/African American student body (over 60%) in the North St. Louis County area. The College saw an increase in almost all self-identified student ethnicity groups in Spring 2023. The augmented healthcare career opportunities, through education and training at the Health Science Center on the Florissant Valley campus, will offer additional prospects for long term job success for the diverse student body. Both areas of study being served by the moveable equipment will strive to meet the strong demand for graduates in these rapidly expanding fields. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, high-growth rate for the respiratory position is listed at 14%, with growth rate for dental position at 8%, which is higher than the average rate of 5%). Tracking the attending student headcount for Spring 2023, the District is recovering from the COVID enrollment slump and stands at 12,525, an increase districtwide of 204 students or 2% overall.
