For far too long, the College of Nursing has done its best to keep up with the latest technological advancements in the medical field but has been forced to do so with outdated and inadequate facilities. As a credit to the faculty, staff and students, the College of Nursing has been able to remain highly competitive despite these obstacles.

Now, however, updated labs and state-of-the-art classrooms will allow the College of Nursing to take major steps towards bettering its already laudable reputation. The benefits are not restricted to nursing students alone. Students will have to make the long trek from St. Mary’s to Bartley or vice versa less frequently, and the creation of additional study areas will decongest the overcrowded and outdated Falvey Memorial Library.

Furthermore, the plans for the new facility will help centralize all the academic resources for the University and facilitate more centralized “hang-out” spots for on-campus residents.

While there is much to be excited about when considering the expansion of the University, there is also a looming sense that Villanova may be growing too big for its own good. While this is a possibility that we must keep in mind, even the purists could agree that improved facilities can keep us competitive with the nation’s best colleges and will ultimately result in a more complete educational experience.

That being said, the University must strike a balance between continued investment in our campus and the desire to retain our Villanova identity. As buildings continue to shoot up in the next few years, more and more scrutiny will be put on high profile administrators to strike a balance between the two objectives.

Villanova is an established university, but it is always a work in progress. In the future we must remain flexible and trust that if alterations are made with our sense of community in mind, change will only enrich our Villanova community. Villanova has integrated that notion of continued progress into its identity through its actions and initiatives.

The construction of the new nursing school building isn’t just a run-of-the-mill project. It is a sign that the University is embracing its future with an open mind and heart, while remaining cognizant of its heritage.

After all, the new nursing building, in part, will affect the most important people on campus – the undergraduates. They are the ones who really make this school the community it is. If Villanova continues its progress toward brighter horizons and does so with the goal of ever-improving excellence, the future is promising.

Now, about that performing arts center …