Created to support evolving healthcare needs, the facility combines flexible learning environments, advanced simulation training, and strong industry partnerships.
Transforming Healthcare Education
To meet growing demand across rural western North Dakota and eastern Montana, Williston State College (WSC) is transforming healthcare education to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Faced with population growth and ongoing workforce shortages, WSC partnered with JLG Architects to create a new model for rural healthcare training, combining innovative learning environments with flexible, community-connected education pathways.
The result is a healthcare training facility designed to strengthen the regional workforce while remaining rooted in the needs of rural communities.
Caring For Rural Communities
Like many rural regions across the country, western North Dakota faces challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. Limited access to local training opportunities often pushes future nurses, medical assistants, and healthcare technicians to pursue education and careers elsewhere.
Anchored in a mission to improve access, equity, and healthcare outcomes, WSC’s Healthcare Training Facility serves as a hub for educating future healthcare professionals right where they are needed most.
Together, WSC and JLG established several key objectives:
– Deliver accessible healthcare education in rural communities
– Strengthen the local healthcare workforce pipeline
– Expand dual-enrollment and reskilling opportunities
– Partner with regional healthcare providers for hands-on learning
– Create flexible pathways that support lifelong learners
Meeting Students Where They Are
Following its groundbreaking in 2024, WSC developed a delivery model designed to meet learners wherever they are in life. Flexible hybrid instruction, evening and weekend class options, and university partnership pathways help make healthcare careers accessible to first-generation, nontraditional, and rural students.
The new facility supports both clinical training and student well-being through:
– High-fidelity simulation labs
– Mock clinical environments
– Technology-enabled classrooms for hybrid learning
– Telehealth and remote care training spaces
– Daylit interiors, natural materials, and direct connections to the outdoors
Today, WSC’s healthcare programs support:
– Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)
– Registered Nursing (RN)
– Medical Assisting
– Health Information Technology
– Community Health Worker Certification
Measuring Impact
The long-term success of WSC’s healthcare education initiative will be measured through both educational and community outcomes. Key metrics include enrollment and retention rates, graduation and job placement data, employer satisfaction, workforce growth, and improvements in regional healthcare capacity.
By tracking these indicators over time, WSC and JLG can better understand how investment in healthcare education translates into stronger healthcare systems and healthier rural communities.
Insights Gained
Delivering a facility that supports an evolving healthcare landscape required balancing workforce needs, academic goals, funding considerations, and long-term flexibility. Throughout the process, one lesson became clear: successful rural education depends on deep community engagement, local commitment, and a willingness to think differently about how and where learning happens.
Building A Brighter Future
Since opening in spring 2026, the Healthcare Training Facility has positioned WSC for continued growth. Future expansion opportunities may include programs in dental hygiene, behavioral health, and paramedic training.
More importantly, the project demonstrates how community-driven planning, adaptable facilities, and workforce-focused education can create lasting impact. As healthcare needs continue to evolve, WSC’s model offers a framework that could help strengthen rural communities across the Midwest and beyond.
WSC is well on its way to its ultimate goal: preparing healthcare professionals, improving access to care, and building stronger, more resilient rural communities.
A Collective Effort
The Healthcare Training Facility at Williston State College is the result of a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort led by JLG’s Higher Education and Healthcare studios. The project team shared a common goal: create an innovative learning environment that prepares students for careers in healthcare. Through collective knowledge, creativity, and dedication, the team transformed this vision into a state-of-the-art facility that supports hands-on learning, collaboration, and the evolving needs of healthcare education.
The project was delivered in partnership with JE Dunn Construction and a team of specialized consultants, including CMTA, AE2S, Clark & Enersen, AGL Landscape Architects, and Actalent. Together, the team created a facility that will have a lasting impact on healthcare education and workforce development across the region.
