Benefits/Highlights of New Optometry Building

Most importantly, a new optometry building will

• be an enormous asset in meeting MCO's goal of educating students to become successful optometrists in today's health-care environment.
• help leverage MCO's ability to attract quality applicants who will become fully immersed in an environment that mirrors their future work settings.
• enhance the highly personalized instruction students have enjoyed for decades, allowing them to engage in more cutting- edge eye- and vision-related research and to be exposed to more patients.
• allow students at every stage of the educational process to receive more and expanded clinical experiences.
• expose patients to a modern, comfortable health-care environment.
• increase visibility and public awareness.
• provide faculty, staff and students with access to the newest technologies available for clinical teaching and learning.
• enable MCO to better meet the needs of underserved populations.
• Specifically, the building will feature:
  • Classrooms, laboratories and faculty/administrative offices for the Michigan College of Optometry
  • Computer laboratories, including network support facilities
  • Distance learning facilities
  • Teaching auditorium
  • Student and faculty/staff lounges
  • Research laboratories
  • Ground-floor Eye and Vision Care Clinic offering optometric/medical eye care and clinical training for optometry students, interns and local and area residents
  • Optical and contact lens dispensary where student interns receive practical hands-on training in the fitting of optical devices
  • A laser surgery room for staff ophthalmologists allowing student interns to gain experience on campus in the handling of pre- and post-operative care of patients undergoing eye surgery.
  • An Optometric Center for Lifelong Learning and Competency for the continuing education of MCO graduates