Wallace Community College Selma students are getting a freshly renovated building to go with their new medical program.

In October 2013, the college received a $3.25 million grant through the Department of Labor’s Better Occupation Outcomes with Stimulation Training Program. Shortly after receiving the grant, the college’s administration created a new program — named BOOST in honor of the grant.

The program allows students to earn three different medical certifications—electrocardiography, nursing assistant and phlebotomy—in three semesters. The school previously only offered a nursing assistant.

The first series of students start in fall 2014, with an opportunity to earn certificates the college never offered previously.

But the students could also be learning in a new building during the spring semester.

WCCS President James Mitchell said the college plans to renovate its old student center building for the program at a cost of more than $200,000 for BOOST enrollees and nursing students.

He said the renovations would include replacing floor tiles, ceiling panels and the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning units.

Once completed, Mitchell said the building would house the Boost program’s simulation labs and interactive equipment.  The building is currently closed, he said.

He said the building was chosen because of available space on campus.

“Quite frankly, it’s the only building we have available,” Mitchell joked. “All the other buildings are full.”

Mitchell said the BOOST program is an exciting opportunity for WCCS, but collaborating with other colleges should also prove valuable.

Wallace’s BOOST program was a small part of $474.5 million in grants given in October 2013 to colleges and universities around the country for the development and expansion of training programs.

A consortium of community colleges in Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina received $25 million specifically for health care.

In a previous interview with the Times-Journal BOOST director Veronica Brown said it’s an innovative way for students to learn.

“Students don’t relate to lecturing right now,” Brown said in October. “The BOOST Program will allow students to be hands on learners and become involved with technology. It’s a good starting point for students that are interested in health care.”

Among other things, WCCS’ BOOST program will allow students to work with 3-D models of organs and body parts.