When we built our signature building on Lonas Drive, it was such an increase in space I thought it would give us plenty of room to grow. Only four years later, we have filled that building and have been holding additional classes at a second location on Hayfield Road in West Knoxville.
That is why I am so excited about our new expansion plans. You may have heard the news that we will soon be moving into Parkside Centre, the former corporate headquarters of Goody’s Family Clothing on Parkside Drive. This facility is perfect for us: It has over 85,000 square feet of space for classrooms, labs and offices as well as a 200-seat auditorium.
As we continue to add career-centered programs attractive to students preparing for today’s employment opportunities, we appreciate the space this additional campus will provide and what it means for the programs we can offer.
We are currently in the midst of the accreditation process necessary for adding advanced degree programs, including a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. When approved, this program will allow our pharmacy graduates to finish their course work in three years and take their Tennessee board exams to become licensed pharmacists. The PharmD program will be among those housed at our new Parkside Centre Learning Site.
We have already begun the conversion of the space and expect to begin classes at the new facility this fall. We continually work with Knoxville-area employers and project 10 to 15 years out to determine what fields are projected growth areas for employment. We are so excited that this space will let us continue to grow our programs to meet these needs. We are also exploring additional programs in the health-care fields, a culinary arts program, and even some programs taught via the Internet to serve students outside of the Knoxville area.
With all this growth, however, we are committed to maintaining a small-school environment with small class sizes and an attractive 15-1 student-teacher ratio. We want South College to continue to help each student’s individual dreams find direction.
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