Roane State Community College

September 18, 2025

Roane State Community College (RSCC) and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville celebrated significant completion of the Knox Regional Health Science Education Center on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Joined by students, donors, supporters, local and state lawmakers, health science educators, and representatives from the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), the two colleges cut a ribbon and effectively started the countdown to grand opening for the new site known as the Covenant Health Campus.

The campus naming is in honor of the largest donation in the history of both colleges – 10 acres of land along Sherill Boulevard, right across the street from Parkwest Medical Center, gifted by Covenant Health in 2023. The new name adorns the front façade and the entryway signage.

The 130,000-square-foot facility is expected to educate more than 8,000 students each year through health science programs offered by Roane State and TCAT Knoxville. The new space will allow both colleges to significantly expand courses and programs.

“We are charting a course to a healthier and more vibrant community thanks to our shared commitment to student success and investment in health science education,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said, referring to the partnership between RSCC and TCAT Knoxville.

President Whaley, TCAT Knoxville President Kelli Chaney, and TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings opened their remarks with messages of gratitude to all those who made the project possible.

Each speaker also highlighted the urgent need for more healthcare professionals across our region and the importance of the facility’s flagship simulation center – the first of its kind in the state to offer classroom, laboratory, and simulation learning all under one roof.

“This facility – with its state-of-the-art technology, built-in flexibility for future innovation, and exceptional faculty – represents the future of health science education,” Chancellor Tydings said. “New and emerging technologies are transforming how we prepare students for the real-world challenges they’ll face in their careers. The long-term impact of a highly skilled, patient-centered healthcare workforce is clear – and it will benefit all Tennesseans.”

Kayla Teter, Roane State nursing student, spoke to the crowd as a special guest. She expects to graduate next year and will be one of the first students taking courses at the new campus. She is also a recent Roane State Foundation scholarship recipient.

“Roane State has been far more than I could have ever imagined,” Teter said. “Everyone here truly wants us to succeed. I’m thrilled to see this wonderful space come to life, watching the future grow in front of me. It’s an honor to serve my future patients, and if my patients feel safe and cared for at the end of the day, I have done my job.”

In addition to nursing, current Roane State programs to be offered at the new campus include EMS, polysomnography, and respiratory therapy, with the college planning new programs such as cardiovascular technology, healthcare administration, ultrasound, and public health.

Prior to the ribbon cutting portion of the ceremony, Roane State and TCAT Knoxville took time to recognize Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and his wife Jan McNally for their unwavering support of the project. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs was on hand to present a proclamation naming the roadway circling the new campus as “Jan and Randy McNally Crossing.”

Mayor Jacobs received his own honor on Thursday as well when his office was named as a recipient of the Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy.

The award is given to dedicated philanthropists who graciously donate their time and finances to TBR institutions. In 2024, Knox County Government pledged a total of $500,000 toward the Knox Regional Health Science Education Center project to be donated over five years.

The total estimated cost for the project was $75 million, with the State of Tennessee having contributed more than $67.5 million. Roane State Foundation has led the charge to raise the additional funds needed to complete the project and provide aid for students who will attend. The Foundation is now well over halfway to that goal.

“We are happy to report that we are closing in on $5 million raised for this effort thanks to a growing list of generous donors,” said Scott Niermann, executive director of Roane State Foundation. “Soon, we will be focused solely on supporting health science students with additional aid to help cover educational costs. As our fundraising campaign continues, we welcome the support of citizens across the region who value a healthy, thriving community.”

Roane State and TCAT Knoxville are currently planning a grand opening celebration for early January 2026. Additional information on that event will be released later this fall. RSCC’s spring classes are set to begin in the new facility January 20, 2026.

For more information on the new campus, the fundraising campaign for student scholarships, and the expanded programs that will be offered, visit thrive.roanestate.edu.