College of Nursing Breaking new grounds Image by Dr. Randy Abrams Students attending the College of Nursing of Prairie View A&M University await completion of their new nursing facility. They were present for the groundbreaking for the new building a few months ago. Health care professionals and political and academic officials were also among the hundreds attending the groundbreaking ceremony that took place at 6436 Fannin in the world renown Texas Medical Center. The twelve-floor structure will contain 118,000 gross feet when it is completed in 2005 at a cost of $31,296,674. The increased space will allow Prairie View A&M University 's College of Nursing to double its student capacity to up to 500 students at the Houston Center for bachelors and masters degrees graduates. The increased capacity is expected to help alleviate the shortage of nursing that has been reaching a critical stage for many hospitals around the country. The nursing shortage estimated at 110,000 in 2000 is projected to grow to half a million by 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health authorities say more caregivers are needed to care for the country's aging population which is expected to increase dramatically as the baby boomers reach their 60s and 70s, and beyond. www.gao.gov Prairie View A&M University has been supplying nurses for the state of Texas since its inception in 1918 when it began as a two-year nursing program on the Main Campus in Prairie View, Texas . The original program grew to a state and nationally accredited baccalaureate program with the establishment of the Upper Division of the College of nursing at a Houston site in 1968. In 1982, the College of Nursing moved into a modern instructional facility in the Texas Medical Center which gave students access to some of the most diverse and advanced health care facilities in the world. Clinical experiences are gained through health agencies in the Texas Medical Center , the City of Houston Health Department, Harris County District health agencies and private and semi-private health facilities throughout the greater Metropolitan Houston Community. In 2003 the once modern structure of 1982, was demolished to make way for the new College of Nursing that will open in 2005. The nursing college currently occupies temporary space at 1801 Main Street . It has a diverse faculty with graduate degrees from institutions from around the country. The faculty represents a large number of medical specialties.