By: Melissa Boyd (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Junior Jen Grillo is looking forwar

Cochise Lucas
d to when the Frear building on at 300 S. New Street opens so that her nursing classes might have a little bit more space.

Wesley received more than $1.3 million from grants and private donations to fund the renovations for the building.

“I’m excited for the building,” Grillo said. “It is going to be a great addition to the nursing department, providing us with the space we need to accommodate all of our nursing students. I’m sad I potentially will only be able to use it for a year [if the renovations are completed before spring of 2014].”

The building will specifically benefit health science majors, like nurses, but will also benefit the general student body and faculty, said Wesley President William Johnston.

“Areas will be designated, particularly for the nursing department,” he said. “The designated nursing area will include simulations labs. But the building will benefit more than just nursing, including general classrooms, faculty offices and computer labs.”

Johnston said the building might open up possibilities for the college to create a new major in the health sciences department.

“There is room within that building for the college to create another major,” he said. “Most likely a health science major because the primary use of the building will be for nurses and health science majors.”

Grillo said she hoped Wesley does offer a new health science major for incoming students.

“I would love to see Wesley offer more majors in the medical field,” she said. “It would give students even more opportunities.”

Wesley received the building from the government two years ago.

Johnston said the plans for the building are complete, but Wesley is still awaiting approval from the federal government to begin the renovations.

“We have yet to receive the official open date from the federal government,” he said. “We have hopes to receive the OK to start renovation from the federal government by the end of this year.”

Johnston said the building will take several months to complete renovations.

“We’re hopeful it will not take a year to complete,” he said.

Freshman Theori Williams said she can’t wait for the opening of the Frear Building.

She is taking her core freshmen nursing classes, but has to take the nursing test and pass before being admitted into the program.

“I think it sounds good to have an extra building for nursing because it’s where you can actually get your stuff done,” she said. “Being a nursing major, bigger labs and study areas would be very beneficial. There’d be more space for students and more people would be able to take labs. I think the nursing program would grow.”

A little more than half a mile away from campus, the building is a 13-minute walk. The college is considering offering a shuttle to students.