ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – College of The Albemarle (COA) celebrated the grand opening of its new Regional Health Sciences Education Center on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, marking a significant investment in healthcare education, workforce development and expanded training opportunities for students and healthcare partners across northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
Photo: College trustees, leadership, state and local officials participate in the ribbon-cutting for the COA Regional Health Sciences Education Center.
Photo: College faculty, staff and students participate in the ribbon-cutting for the COA Regional Health Sciences Education Center.
The new 40,000-square-foot facility, located at COA – Elizabeth City, connects with the existing 20,000-square-foot Dr. Zack D. Owens Health Sciences Center to create an integrated 60,000-square-foot health sciences education and simulated hospital training complex. Designed to support current programs and future growth, the facility provides students with advanced technology, realistic clinical environments and hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for careers in healthcare and related fields.
A significant part of the expansion is a 5,400-square-foot Simulation Center featuring nine dedicated simulation spaces designed to replicate real-world healthcare environments. The center includes an eight-bed medical unit, three versatile simulation suites, a simulated medication room, patient care areas and a dedicated debriefing room.
Among its innovative features is an immersive simulation room that allows students to engage in interactive, realistic training scenarios. The technology provides opportunities to practice clinical skills, respond to patient care situations and strengthen critical thinking and decision-making in a controlled learning environment. Video recording and debriefing capabilities allow faculty and students to review their performance, evaluate clinical decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
Beyond the Simulation Center, the expansion includes three larger student lab spaces dedicated to Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing and Nurse Aide education, along with three adjoining classrooms to support enrollment growth. Additional instructional spaces include four flexible classrooms that can be converted into laboratory environments, a 24-seat computer lab and four glass-enclosed student collaboration rooms. Classrooms and instructional spaces are equipped with advanced video conferencing, recording and distance education capabilities.
The facility supports more than 40 types and levels of healthcare education and training programs, including Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nurse Aide, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Health and Fitness Science, Social and Human Services, and Emergency Medical Services. It also provides opportunities for continued expansion of allied health and short-term workforce training programs to meet the evolving needs of regional healthcare providers.
“The opening of this facility represents an exciting step forward for health sciences education at COA,” said Robin Harris, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness Programs. “Our students now have access to learning environments that closely reflect what they will experience in the healthcare field. These opportunities will help them build confidence, strengthen their clinical skills and prepare to enter the workforce ready to provide quality care to the communities we serve.”
“This new facility represents much more than an expansion of our physical space. It represents an investment in our students, our healthcare partners and the future of the communities we serve,” said Dr. Jack Bagwell, COA President. “By providing access to advanced technology and realistic, hands-on training environments, we are strengthening our ability to prepare highly skilled healthcare professionals who will serve our region for years to come.”
College of The Albemarle extends its appreciation to the North Carolina General Assembly for providing funding to support construction of the new facility and to Pasquotank County for its continued financial support of College operations, including the new expansion. These investments play an important role in expanding educational opportunities and strengthening workforce development across the region.
The College also recognizes Clark Nexsen, the architectural and engineering firm, and Barnhill Construction for their contributions to the facility’s design and construction.
The College extends its sincere appreciation to the COA Foundation, donors and community partners whose generosity and support contributed to the success of this project. Through the Foundation’s Pathways to Care: A Lasting Tribute Paver Campaign, individuals and organizations helped create a beautiful walkway that serves as a lasting recognition of their investment in the future of healthcare education at COA.
The ribbon-cutting celebration brought together College leadership, trustees, students, elected officials and community partners to recognize the completion of the project and the collaborative efforts that made it possible. Remarks were delivered by COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell; Robin Harris, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness Programs; Selina Jarvis, Chair of the COA Board of Trustees; Natalyia Story, Associate Degree Nursing class president; and state and local leaders.
The celebration continued Thursday, Oct. 1, with Community Day, a free event that welcomed area residents to explore the new facility, participate in interactive program demonstrations, connect with local healthcare partners and learn more about educational and career opportunities available through COA.
The opening represents the culmination of a major construction initiative that began with a groundbreaking ceremony May 16, 2025. A topping-out ceremony followed Sept. 8, 2025, marking the placement of the final structural beam and a significant milestone in the facility’s construction.
With the new expansion complete, COA is also planning improvements to existing instructional space within the Dr. Zack D. Owens Health Sciences Center, including a simulated emergency department entrance that will further enhance clinical training opportunities.
For more than 60 years, College of The Albemarle has served as a center for healthcare education in northeastern North Carolina. The new Regional Health Sciences Education Center builds on that legacy, strengthening the College’s ability to prepare students for healthcare careers while supporting the evolving workforce needs of northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Through advanced simulation technology, expanded instructional opportunities and partnerships with healthcare providers, COA continues its commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of the communities it serves.
For information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, Executive Director, Public Relations and Institutional Engagement, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2420, or [email protected].