Grand Valley State University has recently exchanged land with Spectrum Health so that the university can prepare to expand its Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in the future. Recently, GVSU purchased additional land on the north side of the Interstate 196 Highway and now, with the trade, the university will gain land next to the center on Michigan Street in exchange for GVSU’s parking lot on Lafayette Street.

This is a step in the right direction for the university to make, as jobs in healthcare are growing.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 30 occupations projected to have the largest percentage increase between 2012 and 2022, 14 are related to healthcare. The health care and social assistance sector is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.6 percent, adding 5.0 million jobs between 2012 and 2022. This will account for nearly one-third of the total projected increase in jobs.

The university also needs to expand with a growing student population and accommodate student needs so they have the best learning environment possible to help them succeed. About 21,000 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs at GVSU in the fall of 2014. More than 2,000 of these students are pursuing health-related fields and would be using the new building.

It is important that the university leaps to the front of the pack in terms of innovative ways to teach and research in the different areas of healthcare. The new building is expected to have additional classrooms and laboratories, which would help GVSU to show other universities successful ways to transfer knowledge and create demand for the GVSU healthcare program.

In addition to expanding the health sciences programs, the university should also keep in mind other growing industries, such as Computer Information Systems which has a growing demand and students enrolled in the program. As of fall 2014, there were 614 undergraduate students majoring in computer science or information systems.

Students in these majors can expect a good job outlook after graduation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information systems jobs will grow 15 percent by 2022, an above average rate.

Keeping these trends in mind, the university should also look to update necessary equipment and space needs to encourage students to come to GVSU and enroll in these growing fields. For expansion to be successful, GVSU will need to be aware of upcoming trends and technology that will become commonplace in the future that students should be able to use.

This planned expansion of the health sciences building is a step in the right direction for the university, and will be very beneficial for the students studying these healthcare fields. The next step is to look into what other growing industries are and expand the facilities in those programs.