At an Aug. 31 press conference, Montrose Memorial Hospital announced a $150,000 donation to Colorado Mesa University to support the nursing program at the Montrose campus.
“Our nursing program in Montrose is thriving in large part because of Montrose Memorial Hospital’s commitment to its success,” CMU President Tim Foster said in a press release sent out by the university.
The donation will be paid out over five years.
“The donation will help fund the development of a nursing/teaching lab for the nursing students,” Montrose Memorial’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations Leann Tobin said. “Montrose nursing students currently have to go to the Grand Junction campus for their laboratory work.”
At the Montrose campus, there are both two- and four-year programs offered under the Health Sciences department, with nursing being one of the more popular programs. “The programs are well attended,” CMU’s Director of Media Relations Dana Nunn said. “A medical office assistant program just started and it’s already full.”
Nursing education continues to be a solid investment for students. There is no shortage of job opportunities for certified nurses.
“Nursing is a great profession, and there continues to be a need,” Tobin said.
The Montrose campus currently has 300 students enrolled within the associate and baccalaureate completion tracks, as well as general education classes and selected upper division and graduate classes. Seventy of those students are enrolled in the nursing program.
Montrose Memorial’s donation to CMU is expected to attract more students. The donation will go towards improving classroom and laboratory space, video conferencing space, lighting upgrades and instruction equipment.
“Montrose Memorial Hospital has a great working relationship with CMU and the nursing students do their clinical rotations in our hospital, and have been for a long time. Many of them choose to work at the hospital after they graduate,” Tobin said.
The additional purchase of nursing equipment will help eliminate the commute Montrose students have to make to the Grand Junction campus.
“When we first started up the program, MMH was supportive at the time, they helped get the program going. This is just another example of their support of CMU and their support of having healthcare education in the community,” Nunn said.
Montrose Memorial’s CEO Dave Hample talked about the importance of the community to be able to provide health care education.
“Montrose Memorial Hospital’s participation in Colorado Mesa University’s renovation and equipment acquisition initiatives exemplifies MMH’s commitment to our community, to education and to the enhancement of an already high quality nursing program right here at home,” Hample said.
For more about CMU’s nursing program and other Health Sciences programs, visit www.coloradomesa.edu/healthsciences.

cmfoster@mavs.coloradomesa.edu