CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Nashville State Community College has been working toward expanding its campus on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, in a collaboration between the college and the TCAT Clarksville campus, and the project has passed another hurdle.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission recently placed the project among its top capital funding requests after the Tennessee Board of Regents submitted it as one of its top three priorities, according to a news release.
The requests will be sent to Gov. Bill Lee for possible inclusion in his budget to the Tennessee General Assembly. This step follows the announcement by Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts that the expansion is the No. 2 priority for the local legislative agenda.
Nashville State opened its Clarksville campus in 2012 with 257 students, and enrollment has grown to more than 900. By 2017, the campus exceeded its capacity for serving students; and a four-classroom modular building had to be installed.
With this expansion, an additional 800 students could be served, the release said.
The expansion will allow for the addition of new academic programs, like Nursing A.S.N, Licensed Practical Nurse, Secondary Education A.S.T, Computer Programming A.A.S., Industrial Process Control A.A.S., and workforce training. Expanded resources to support student success, such as a dedicated veterans’ lounge, welcome center, new bookstore, Campus Cupboard food pantry, testing space for industry certifications, ADA testing center, library and study area, and tutoring support rooms, the release said. Nashville State’s ability to offer Licensed Practical Nursing would free up much needed space at the TCAT.
The expansion will create a community-based Center for Higher Education that will allow strategic partnerships with TCAT, CMCSS, Fort Campbell and Austin Peay State University. This joint project will open up space for more technical and workforce programs at the TCAT.
To foster great collaboration, communications, and support within the community, the College has established a Clarksville Advisory Committee.