At the beginning of this year, Carrington College’s Boise campus was excited to move into a new, state-of-the art facility. In February 2024, the campus move represented a significant investment of close to $1 million and is part of Carrington College’s commitment to offering an enriched learning
environment for students in Boise, ID, and the surrounding areas. The relocation will offer students improved access to resources, a more collaborative atmosphere and an overall enriched educational experience.
“We are excited to unveil our new campus in Boise, which reflects our dedication to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students,” says Zach Jiru, M.B.A., M.Ed., Campus Director at Carrington College, Boise. “The new campus enhances our physical infrastructure and
signifies our commitment to the community while fostering a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for success in their chosen fields.”
One of the highlights is the 30-operatory dental hygiene clinic, which occupies most of the second floor of the facility. The dental hygiene clinic was designed not only for patient and student comfort, but also to provide a clinical experience that better prepares graduates to transition
to the private practice setting. A six-operatory dental assisting lab and classroom make up the rest of the floor. One of Carrington’s published Institutional Learning Outcomes is collaboration, and the proximity of these spaces provides an excellent opportunity for the dental hygiene and dental
assisting students to learn and practice this—sharing their lab and clinic spaces and working together in their respective programs to foster a collaborative and teamwork-focused environment.
A patient reception area with a separate entrance was a significant addition to the new facility, providing a more positive experience and added comfort for the approximately 150 community patients who are served in the clinic each week.
“We are privileged to be able to provide a full range of dental hygiene services to the Boise community with all services being provided free of charge. This is a huge benefit to our community and fills a much-needed role in providing dental care to a diverse population who might otherwise not
have access to these services” says Rachel Watkins, M.P.A., RDH, Dental Hygiene Program Director at Carrington College, Boise.
The dental hygiene program is the flagship program on the Boise campus and for the past 25 years has educated dental hygienists in Idaho and the surrounding states. Approximately 81% of practicing hygienists in Idaho are Carrington College graduates, according to Carrington’s 2020 Impact Study.
The highly competitive program provides educational opportunities for approximately 90 students per year and boasts excellent student outcomes. With the current nationwide shortage of oral health care workers, Carrington College is in an important position to help rebuild the workforce in Idaho.
The new facility will enable the dental hygiene program to continue producing well-educated and prepared dental hygienists for years to come.
Courtesy of Rachel Watkins, M.P.A., RDH, Dental
Hygiene Program Director, Carrington College
Published on September 11, 2024