Crestview Ed Center builds on FAMU's health science mission

This legislative session, Sen. Durell Peaden (R-Crestview) secured the remaining money required to open FAMU's Crestview Education Center.

Peaden, who previously netted $2.5M for the project, recently steered another $8.5M into FAMU’s budget to cover the costs.

$7M of the new appropriation consists of noncurring funds that will go toward renovating Crestview’s Alatex building for FAMU’s use. The 40,000-square foot, two-story brick building was constructed in 1937. At first, it was home to the Smith-Johnson garment company and the local City Hall. Smith-Johnson left after a couple of years and was replaced by the Alatex Textile Company, which remained until the 1980s. Then, Rainbow Apparel moved in and ran the facility until the mid-1990s.

The remaining $1.5M is recurring money designated for hiring faculty and staff for the center.

Crestview’s city council is in the process of removing asbestos and other contaminants from the building. Once the cleanup is complete, the building’s title will be transferred to FAMU.

FAMU's Crestview Education Center will be an interdisciplinary campus. According to the authorizing legislation, the center will offer "instructional programs leading to the PharmD; B.S. or M.S. nursing; master of public health and doctorate of public health; and health care management, health administration, occupational therapy, and physical therapy."

The legislation adds that "it is the intent of the Legislature that students trained at this facility be provided the opportunity to receive field experience in county health departments, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, clinics, and local pharmacies. Such training shall focus on preparing students for health care careers in rural and underserved areas."

The Crestview center will be FAMU Pharmacy’s first degree-granting satellite location. The pharmacy school’s campuses in Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa do not offer full degrees. They are used as clinical training divisions for advanced students.

The University of Florida already currently operates four-year pharmacy degree satellites in three cities: Jacksonville, Orlando, and St. Petersburg. A brand new pharmacy school is also slated to be opened at the University of South Florida Polytechnic at Lakeland.