BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington hosted a rededication on Feb. 11 to celebrate the official move of the Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing to the main campus, in the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building, and to honor Marchant’s contributions.
The event marked a milestone for the campus and for nursing education in the region. The newly renovated and expanded training space nearly doubles lab capacity from the former location and has been upgraded to mirror the modern healthcare environment.
Chancellor Erik Coyne acknowledged the significance of gathering in Marchant’s honor.
“Just a little more than a year after Lee’s passing, it meant so much to have Annie Marchant and family with us as we rededicated the school in its new home,” Coyne said. “The Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing stands as a lasting testament to Lee’s commitment to education, opportunity, and our community.”
The expansion was completed through a collaborative effort that repurposed existing space, allowing the project to move forward at just 10% of the originally quoted cost of $4 million. Administrative and academic teams worked together to reimagine underutilized areas across campus to support the program’s growth.
Over the past two and a half years, Ivy Tech Bloomington’s nursing program has undergone significant growth and transformation.
The campus currently admits 205 nursing students annually and has launched the college’s first-ever evening cohort. The campus estimates it will graduate 175 nurses in May 2026, nearly 20 more than last year.
Support from healthcare partners was also critical in making the move possible. A grant from IU Health helped fund the new facilities, strengthening the connection between classroom instruction and clinical practice.
“When you visit the space, you’re seeing more than new, modern labs and equipment,” Coyne said. “You’re seeing more seats for future nurses and a much stronger bridge between what happens in the classroom and what happens on the hospital floor, so that when our graduates walk in on day one, they are ready to go.”
The Marchant School of Nursing is named in honor of Lee J. Marchant, a longtime Ivy Tech Foundation Board member and former chair, who also served on the Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees. Lee and Annie Marchant established endowed scholarships for nursing students and played a pivotal role in launching the certified nursing assistant (CNA) program at the Bloomington campus. The school continues to reflect their legacy of expanding opportunity and strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce.
The Marchant School of Nursing was formerly located at 101 N. Daniels Way, across the street from Ivy Tech Bloomington’s main building at 200 Daniels Way.
Applications for the fall 2026 Transition to ASN (RN) evening cohort open March 15, 2026 to May 15, 2026. Licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, and certified medical assistant (CMA-AAMA) professionals are eligible to apply.
For application information, email bloomington-nursing@ivytech.edu.
