A $250,000 gift from the Amon G. Carter Foundation will provide nursing students at The University of Texas at Arlington with the hands-on technical skills necessary to thrive in today's dynamic health care environment.
The gift will support construction of a modernized Smart Hospital in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) featuring the latest in simulation technology. The facility will be housed in UTA's new School of Social Work/College of Nursing and Health Innovation Smart Hospital Building.
"For many years, even as far back as Jim Spaniolo's tenure as president, the Amon G. Carter Foundation has been one of UT Arlington's most valued philanthropic partners," Interim President Teik C. Lim said. "This thoughtful and generous investment will help UTA continue to lead the way in simulation‐focused learning while advancing our efforts to expertly train the nurses of the future."
UTA broke ground on the School of Social Work/Smart Hospital Building in February 2021, with a projected completion date of November 2022. In addition to housing the Smart Hospital, the 150,000-square-foot structure will be home to the School of Social Work, ushering in a new era of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration between the two programs.
"The Amon G. Carter Foundation recognizes that UTA is the No. 1 producer of bachelor's degree-prepared nurses in Texas and has been named a prestigious National League for Nursing Center of Excellence," said John Robinson, the foundation's executive vice president. "We commend UTA's forward-thinking approach to construct a new building that includes Smart Hospital simulation technology as well as space for the School of Social Work."
By creating an environment where both nursing and social work students can collaborate and innovate, UTA will graduate a new generation of health care professionals uniquely equipped to meet the critical needs of North Texas communities.
The Amon G. Carter Foundation's generous support of the original Smart Hospital in 2006 has helped COHNI become a leader in simulation‐based technology and training that mirrors real‐world scenarios. The new gift will provide greater exposure to elder care nursing at the undergraduate level, create space to replicate visits to clients in their homes and expand offerings to include graduate programming.
- Written by Mark Permenter, University Advancement
