Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Mount Airy College Center for Health Care Education
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) will join community college leaders to celebrate the opening of the Mount Airy College Center for Health Care Education on Monday, October 1. The 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting marks a successful, collaborative effort to educate workers to fill health care jobs in the region.
The Center has been created through a partnership among Carroll, Frederick and Howard community colleges. College presidents will join elected officials, students and instructors for a short program, followed by tours and refreshments. The event will be held at 1902 Back Acre Circle in Mt. Airy, Md.
The unique collaboration unites the best health care programs from all three community colleges, helping to reduce a shortage of health care workers in Maryland. With support from a $1 million federal grant in 2010 the community colleges worked together to share resources and open the Center this fall. About 200 students have started their training in high-demand programs to earn an associate degree or certificate, or pursue a continuing education program.
The facility features 15,750 square feet of academic and support space, which is leased out of a total of 24,000 square feet in the building. The Center includes three lecture rooms, one computer lab, two allied health labs and two biological science labs. Student computers and free wireless are available throughout the facility. The Center also houses faculty/staff offices. A benefit of the Center is the short commute from all three home campuses. Classes are offered days, evenings, and weekends. Another benefit is that residents of Carroll, Frederick or Howard counties pay the standard, in-county tuition rate for any class at the Center.
The concept of the shared facility originated during the 2008-2009 academic year. The groundbreaking was held in July, 2011. The project developer is Back Acre Holdings, L.L.C. Ayers Saint Gross architects provided interior space design. The general contractor is TSI Commercial Construction.
For more information, please visit www.mtairycollegecenter.com.
