The Lander University Board of Trustees alongside President Richard Cosentino, Self Regional President and CEO Dr. Matt Logan, and Lander faculty and staff, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new nursing building Tuesday, May 6. Photo by Laura Wood.
A new building is providing expanded opportunities for Lander University’s nursing students.
Lander held an official groundbreaking for its new, state-of-the-art nursing building Tuesday, May 6 – coinciding with National Nurses Day. The building is being constructed on Lander’s campus and will provide advanced resources for nursing majors.
The facility will have simulation laboratories, classrooms, laboratory monitoring rooms, and collaborative study and huddle areas.
Funding for the new building was provided by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2021 in response to a growing need for nurses in South Carolina. Federal funding was allocated in 2024 toward outfitting the building with interactive classroom technology and simulation equipment.
It will be the third nursing facility on Lander’s campus, joining Barratt Hall and the Self Regional Healthcare Nursing Skills Simulation Center.
Self Regional Healthcare and Lander have close ties to one another. A transformative gift from Self Regional paved the way for the Self Scholars Program, a prestigious scholarship offered annually to Lander’s highest performing nursing students. Of the nursing students graduating this spring, 43% will be going to work for Self Regional.
“Today’s ceremony checks many boxes that are important to Lander University and our state,” said Lander President Richard Cosentino.
Representatives from Lander University, Self Regional Healthcare and the city of Greenwood participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new nursing building on Lander’s campus Tuesday, May 6. Photo by Laura Wood.
“This symbolizes Lander’s strong partnership with Self Regional Healthcare, and we are so fortunate to have such a fine organization providing world-class health care right here in Greenwood… The state needs nurses and Lander is delivering. Our nursing program continues to grow, and we have a strong track record of preparing our students for the workforce.”
Self Regional Healthcare President and CEO Dr. Matt Logan said the new building isn’t just about classrooms – it’s about opportunity.
“Our partnership with Lander University I don’t think has ever been stronger than it is today, and I will say it’s much more than just education. It’s truly the people,” Logan said.
“If you walk through Self Regional’s halls, you will see a Lander graduate almost anywhere that you look.”
“We see Lander as much more than a partner. Lander is part of our mission to provide health care to the community and we’re proud to stand with Lander in preparing our nursing workforce that our community truly depends upon. When Lander thrives, Self Regional thrives and most importantly, the people that we’re entrusted to serve thrive.”
Dr. Holisa Wharton, dean of the School of Nursing, said she looks forward to continuing collaborations and partnerships that expand access to health care and create innovations in nursing education.
“Lander and Self have been partners in educating nurses for 70 years and continue to invest in the education of nurses with such programs as the Self Scholars Program that provides scholarships to our upper-level nursing students from the GLEAMNS area here in South Carolina and our CARE program that allows senior-level nursing students to earn clinical experience and tuition support as paid nurse externs at Self Regional,” Wharton said.
Updates on Lander’s ongoing construction projects can be found at lander.edu/construction.
Learn more about the School of Nursing at lander.edu/nursing.