Classes now being held in the new Science Hall

Students and faculty of Liberty University’s rapidly expanding Department of Biology & Chemistry as well as the Department of Health Professions were invited to move into the new Science Hall at the start of the 2015 spring semester.

The four-story, 121,000-square-foot building is triple the size of the prior science building and houses the Department of Biology & Chemistry on Floors 1-3 and the Department of Health Professions on the Terrace Level. All chemistry labs have moved into the new building, along with several biology classes. More labs and classes will continue to transition to the new building throughout the semester. Everything is expected to be complete by the end of the 2015 spring semester.

“I’m thankful for the university’s support of the sciences,” said Dr. David DeWitt, chair of the Department of Biology & Chemistry. “This facility will allow us to even better prepare our students for medical school, graduate school, and employment.”

The Department of Biology & Chemistry and the Department of Health Professions are receiving more than $2 million in state-of-the-art equipment along with the new building. Biology & Chemistry are getting supplementary technology such as a gene sequencer, GC mass spectrometer, and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer.

Students will also have access to 20 biology and chemistry “wet” labs (where chemicals or biological matter are handled in liquid solutions), including a cadaver lab, cell culture facility, several research labs, and additional open labs. Due to space constraints, open labs were only available to students at night.

“To say that I am ecstatic is an understatement,” DeWitt said. “Students will be pleasantly surprised at how awesome the new building is.”

The Department of Biology & Chemistry includes degrees in biomedical sciences, biopsychology, cell and molecular biology, zoology, and forensic science and has experienced a 25 percent growth over a period of four years. For the last three years, 90 to 100 percent of graduates who applied to medical school were accepted, and this past year, 95 percent of students were accepted into the medical school of their choice.

The Department of Health Professions, which offers degrees in athletic training, exercise science, health promotions, and kinesiology, will be upgrading to technology such as a Netus balance system, an Ultra Sound Imaging system, an Isokinetic Testing system, and a Delsys EMG system. They will also have access to four new labs including the Human Performance Lab, the Center for Movement Analysis, the Jeff Taylor Athletic Training Lab, and the Functional Assessment Lab.

“The majors within our department have experienced tremendous growth over the last several years,” said Dr. Schoffstall, Department of Health Professions chair. “The new facility is beyond anything that we would have imagined five years ago. This facility will allow us to better equip Champions for Christ to prepare for service and to reach the world for Christ.”