Staff Report
Western Nevada College is moving forward with a major expansion of its nursing education facilities on the Fallon campus, a project expected to significantly increase access to healthcare training for students in Churchill County and surrounding rural communities.
Design and permitting are already underway for a renovation of the Piñon Building, with construction scheduled to begin in January 2026. Once complete, the upgraded space will feature modern clinical training areas, advanced simulation labs, and dedicated study and testing rooms designed to support hands-on nursing education close to home.
Currently, WNC serves eight Associate of Applied Science nursing students in Fallon. Many of those students travel approximately 140 miles round-trip to Carson City to complete required coursework. The renovation will allow the Fallon campus to accommodate up to 24 first-year and 24 second-year nursing students, tripling the program’s local capacity.
“In speaking about the expansion at our advisory board meetings, our clinical partners are excited about the prospect of educating more nurses in the rural community,” said Dr. Audrey Auer, director of nursing and allied health at WNC.
According to Auer, the long-term goal is for Fallon-based nursing students to complete all required classes on the Fallon campus. The expanded facilities will also allow WNC to recruit additional students from Fallon and neighboring communities, reducing travel barriers that can discourage enrollment.
“This expansion will provide additional lab and simulation space and open the potential for recruiting more students from Fallon and the surrounding areas,” Auer said.
The project is funded through a combination of federal and philanthropic support, including backing from the Health Resources and Services Administration, along with investments from the William N. Pennington Foundation and the E.L. Cord Foundation through the WNC Foundation. College officials said those partnerships have been critical to advancing the project.
WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe said the renovation represents a meaningful investment in rural healthcare infrastructure.
“This renovation represents a tremendous investment in the future of healthcare in rural Nevada,” Dalpe said. “The organizations that support this project recognize how vital it is for local students to access education close to home. Together, we are expanding opportunities and strengthening the pipeline of skilled professionals who will care for our communities.”
College officials said the expansion is expected to help address workforce shortages in healthcare while creating new educational and economic opportunities in Fallon.
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