Skip to main content
OCC Foundation Supports Health Professions Center
The Olney Central College Foundation played a vital role in the development of OCC's new Health Professions Center, helping create a state-of-the-art learning environment that will benefit students for years to come.
The Health Professions Center, which opened in January 2026, added 7,820 square feet of new construction and renovated an additional 1,900 square feet within Dr. Kent L. Wattleworth Hall. The facility features two classrooms, a six-bed nursing skills lab, two nursing simulation labs with an observation area, and a new radiography classroom and energized lab. Additional amenities include a conference room, faculty offices and a student commons area.
While the $3.5 million project was funded through the Rebuild Illinois capital program, the OCC Foundation's commitment helped ensure the inclusion of a much-needed modern classroom space in the final design. The Foundation pledged more than $150,000 over five years to support the project, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for OCC students. Last year's donations totaled $125,660.
"The Foundation's investment reflects the generosity of our donors and their belief in the future of healthcare education at OCC," said OCC President Chris Simpson. "Their support helped us create additional learning spaces that will have a lasting impact on our students and the communities they will serve."
Dr. Alani Frederick, Dean of Health Professions at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, said the nursing simulation center will enable students to work through real-world scenarios, while the skills lab will offer a flexible space for hands-on learning in a safe, realistic environment.
“To prepare our students for the real world, they need to be workforce ready, and we are committed to doing that,” Frederick said. “We work really hard to make sure that the equipment available in these rooms is very similar to what is used in the actual clinic site. That way, our students know what to use and how to use it. What we’re able to do here, in both nursing and radiography, is work even harder to make sure our students are prepared so not only will they maintain our high standards, but they’ll exceed them.”
Foundation Assists With Renovations to Science Labs
The Olney Central College Foundation is supporting an extensive $2 million project to renovate four science labs in Dr. Kent L. Wattleworth Hall.
The work will focus on transforming the third-floor physics, chemistry and two biology labs into modern, high-tech learning spaces. The Foundation will assist in these efforts through the purchase of state-of-the-art lab equipment.
OCC President Chris Simpson said the renovations will be a much-needed addition to the campus. The remodel will encompass everything from new cabinetry, flooring and furniture to upgrading the tools and equipment needed to support effective faculty instruction.
“The new science labs will provide a more modern, updated 21st Century-type of environment for teaching and learning,” he said. “I know that both students and faculty members will appreciate the new labs. A modern, well-designed lab can make STEM courses more engaging for students. As we have seen with our recently opened Health Professions Center, these new and updated spaces have a major impact on teaching and learning. It allows for new approaches to instruction for our faculty members and is much more visually appealing to the students.”
Renovations began in April 2026 and should be completed prior to the start of fall semester classes.
“The new science labs align very well with the newly developed transfer pathways that the IECC has developed,” Simpson said. “These pathways provide a better sequence of courses for students and the new labs will enhance learning opportunities for students. I think the students that leave Olney Central College are well prepared for their next steps, whatever that may be. If the student transfers to a four-year institution, these upgrades to our science labs are going to enhance their ability to be successful as they transfer on.”
| OCC Foundation Annual Report 2026 | 548.77 KiB |
