July 10, 2026

Ferris State College of Health Professions leaders say building renovation, expansion will help meet demand, grow healthcare workforce

Ferris State University leaders are taking the first steps to plan for extensive renovations to the Victor F. Spathelf Center for Allied Health, modernizing and expanding programs that train the next generations of health professionals and address statewide shortages.

The new state government budget includes planning authorization funding to renovate the 1979 building. This important first step allows the university to move forward with formal preconstruction, engineering, and design work.

The project is expected to include the renovation of 67,000 square feet and the addition of 20,000 square feet to the existing facility.

Ferris State’s College of Health Professions prepares students for a wide range of in-demand healthcare professions. Its emphasis is on hands-on learning, clinical experience, and close partnerships with healthcare providers throughout Michigan.

“This approval represents far more than a renovation. It is an investment in our students, faculty, staff, healthcare programs, and the many individuals and communities who depend on the College of Health Professions for education, training, and clinical services.” Dean Lincoln Gibbs said.

“We are deeply grateful for this investment in the College of Health Professions and in the future of healthcare education at Ferris State. These improvements will help ensure that our students continue to learn in spaces that reflect the quality, innovation, and excellence of the programs they are preparing to enter.”

Gibbs said the investment will help us provide learning environments that better support education, clinical preparation, and the continued development of compassionate, highly trained healthcare professionals.

The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in areas including Allied Health Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Exercise Science, Health Care Systems Administration, Health Information Management, Health Information Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing, Public Health, and Radiography. The state’s only Dental Therapy program starts this fall.

The college focuses on experiential learning, with students benefiting from clinical placements throughout Michigan, internships with healthcare organizations, interprofessional education, where students from different healthcare disciplines learn together, research and service-learning opportunities, small class sizes that foster close faculty mentorship.

"Ferris State University plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of health care professionals," said State Rep. Tom Kunse, who supported the appropriation. "This investment gives students access to modern classrooms and hands-on training while helping ensure our communities have the skilled workforce they need for years to come."

Kunse said the project will benefit students throughout northern and central Michigan while supporting the state's growing demand for nurses and other allied health professionals.

"When students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, they're better prepared to enter the workforce and serve patients across Michigan," Kunse said. "This is a smart investment in our students, our workforce and the future of health care in our state. I'm proud to have worked to secure this funding for Ferris and the communities it serves."