(KAIR)--Benedictine College is in the early stages of exploring the potential for a new medical school on its Atchison campus.

That's according to a release from the college, following an announcement made last month in USA Today, which focused on the proposed Benedictine College of Osteopathic Medicine which would provide, what the release calls "an education faithful to the Catholic Church- bioethical teachings, and train doctors ready to serve those most in need, in Catholic hospitals and in rural areas where health care providers are scarce."

The Benedictine College Board of Directors voted in June to continue efforts to explore the proposed medical school, with the college dedicating an initial $4 million investment.

According to the release, the college has completed substantial due diligence on the project, identified fund raising goals, established a project timeline, and has established a committee of the Board of Directors to provide ongoing leadership."

The interest in supporting a medical school comes from the college- strategic plan, “Transform Culture in America,” which states: “STEM education is a particular emphasis of Benedictine College” and calls for the school “to advance the mission through science and health care.”

The college, the release notes, has been stressing its STEM character for 15 years.

BC had a previous agreement with Catholic Healthcare International to collaborate on a potential medical school; and while that group, on June 12, announced termination of that agreement, College President, Stephen Minnis, in the release, thanks them "for being the inspiration" for the new project.