Celebrate Pat Walker Health Center Expansion; Groundbreaking Ceremony on Feb. 28

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The health center is hosting a groundbreaking celebration at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28.

The Pat Walker Health Center is expanding! Recently, the health center began work on a 20,000-square-foot expansion that will further extend the reach of the health center and the impact it has on the campus community.

To commemorate this step forward, the health center is hosting a groundbreaking celebration at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28.

"The University of Arkansas is fortunate to have a diverse and comprehensive health and wellness center already established on campus, but we must continue to grow with the increasing number of students arriving on campus each year," said Mary Alice Serafini, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and executive director of the health center. "We thank everyone who has been part of this rewarding journey for the health center, and we invite the entire campus community to celebrate the groundbreaking."

The event will be held on the second floor of the Elizabeth Phillips Stewart Atrium of the Pat Walker Health Center.

The celebration will also be broadcasted live on the Division of Student Affairs Facebook page.

About the Health Center Expansion Project

The entire project is expected to be completed by fall 2018, with the new addition opening in spring 2018.

Key features of the expansion and renovation will include:

• Three new academic classrooms that can be combined into a large, 200-seat classroom.
• Efficient access to all medical services – the Women's Clinic will move to the first floor, while the Primary Care Clinic and Allergy, Immunization and Travel Clinic will be renovated to increase efficiencies.
• A 100 percent increase in dedicated space for Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).
• Larger dedicated space for Wellness and Health Promotion and Administrative Services.

"The student health center was established in 1875 by members of the Fayetteville community to isolate students with communicable disease.  As control of communicable diseases became safer, the health center expanded from medical care to mental health care and wellness and health promotion," said Serafini. "By fall 2018, students, faculty and staff will benefit from an expanded facility with increased staffing to serve their needs in the 21st century."

About Pat Walker Health Center: The Pat Walker Health Center supports the University of Arkansas campus community on their way to wellness. The health center provides professional and comprehensive medical and mental health care, wellness support and health promotion for students, faculty, and staff.