Roane State gets new Health Science campus, backed by Knox County
Roane State initiated construction on the project in the summer of 2023, with plans for the center to be operational by the fall of 2025.
Knox County officials have committed a sum of $500,000 to the Roane State Foundation in support of the Knox Regional Health Science Education Center. The new Roane State Community College campus is currently under construction in West Knoxville. The county already provided an initial installment of $100,000 to the Foundation and plans to continue contributing the same amount annually for the next four years.
The forthcoming 130,000-square-foot facility will be situated at 9575 Sherrill Boulevard, opposite Parkwest Medical Center. It will accommodate health science programs from both Roane State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville. Upon its completion, the center will replace Roane State’s existing Knox County Center for Health Sciences. This will enable both institutions to significantly broaden their offerings in health science courses and programs.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs expressed his enthusiasm for the project.
“Not only will this help our region’s healthcare providers by deepening our pool of qualified professionals, but it also opens the door to great career paths for the thousands of students each year who complete these courses,” Jacobs said.
Some of Roane State’s current programs will be relocated to the new center, including nursing, EMS, polysomnography, and respiratory therapy. The center will also incorporate a comprehensive simulation center to provide students with immersive real-world training experiences. Roane State President Chris Whaley expressed gratitude to Knox County for their support in advancing the institution’s mission of enhancing lives through higher education.
“This project will allow us to serve our students at the highest level so they can enter the healthcare workforce highly skilled, ready to save lives and enhance patient care,” Whaley said.
The total projected cost for the project amounts to $75 million, requiring a minimum of $7.5 million in private philanthropy to ensure its completion and sustainable support for future students.
Roane State initiated construction on the project in the summer of 2023, with plans for the center to be operational by the fall of 2025.
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