Roane State Community College

^{Pictured L-R: Mayor Pro Tem Rob Harrison, Councilmember Mike Turner, Councilmember Art Gernt, Mayor RJ Crawford, Roane State President Chris Whaley, Roane State Foundation Board Member Oscar “Pepe” Perron, Roane State Foundation Executive Director Scott Niermann, and Councilmember Scot Shanks.}

February 19, 2024

The City of Crossville has invested $100,000 in a project to expand Roane State’s Cumberland County campus with an entirely new wing devoted to health science education.

Roane State Foundation met with Mayor RJ Crawford and members of city council in the fall to thank them for their early support of the project. The expansion will grow the college’s overall health science capacity and offer a full nursing program for the first time in Crossville.

“It was an easy decision to partner with Roane State on this new addition,” Crossville Major RJ Crawford said. “We need more people in the nursing field, and the campus expansion is providing a pathway for more members of our population to pursue this career. We are very excited about what this facility will do to keep local talent local.”

Construction began in 2023 and the project is estimated to be complete by this summer. The new portion of the campus will include a flex lab and two flexible classrooms as well as a dedicated nursing area with its own lab and classroom.

“Growing our campus in Crossville to better accommodate student needs will mean far less travel for those who are having to commute to other campuses for certain classes and labs,” explained Roane State President Chris Whaley. “Serving these students locally helps us eliminate barriers that might otherwise prevent students from reaching their goals.”

An estimated 150 health science students from Cumberland and Fentress counties alone are expected to benefit from reduced commute times during their foundational course years. Additionally, the expansion will make room for the inaugural Roane State nursing cohort in Crossville, addressing a critical shortage in the region.

“We are tremendously thankful to the City of Crossville and its city council for supporting this effort and our students,” said Roane State Foundation Executive Director Scott Niermann. “Working together on projects like this means we are better able to meet the growing healthcare workforce needs in our area.”

The total estimated project cost is $2.5 million. The State of Tennessee has funded $1.7 million, and Roane State Foundation is raising the additional funds needed to complete the expansion, furnish the rooms, and provide scholarships for student needs. To learn more about the project or to make a direct donation, visit roanestate.edu/cccdonate.

Roane State’s Cumberland County Campus is located at 2567 Cook Road in Crossville. Additional information about this site can be found online at roanestate.edu/cumberland.