Reimagining Sylvia Trottier Hall

from RivToday / Spring 2021

Celebrating Innovation

Transformational $1 million gift launches Projects Excel and Elevate, creating the next level of technology and learning for nursing and business students.

A $1 million donation to create the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center serves as the catalyst for the next phase of technology and learning. Project Excel, focusing on nursing simulation, and Project Elevate with its focus on business and security programs, will ensure Rivier students will be workplace ready through the use of technology and experiential learning.

“A visionary benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous supports the next generation of nurses who will serve the Greater Nashua community,” says Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM, President. “This donor has gifted Rivier students with an environment that will challenge them to 'think like a nurse' and model real-life medical scenarios, and faculty members with laboratories that will foster hands-on learning and mentorship. This gift demonstrates the singular confidence in Rivier nursing programs that will enable the University to attract additional philanthropic support.”

Following the opening of the Science and Innovation Center in September, Rivier’s commitment to the renewal of learning spaces continues with plans to renovate Sylvia Trottier Hall, home to the Division of Nursing and Health Professions, the Division of Business and Security Studies, and Information Technology Services.

The 30,000 square-foot renovation will incorporate many elements of a professional environment that students will meet in their future workspaces. “Investment in the facility’s infrastructure, aesthetics, and technology will foster next-level learning for our nursing, business, and security studies students,” shares Sister Paula. “In addition to our exceptional faculty and curriculum, students will learn in best in-class environments that model the realworld they will experience as they enter the workforce.”

Rivier has long been at the forefront of simulation-based learning. “Rivier students will maintain their competitive advantage with access to the most recent hi-fidelity medical and cyber-security technology while integrating cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills necessary for success in the 21st century workforce,” says Dr. Brian Ernsting, Vice President for Academic Affairs.

P R O J E C T EXCEL

The hallmark of Project Excel will be the creation of the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center with completely renovated teaching labs for nursing fundamentals, clinical assessment, community nursing, and telehealth simulation.

**Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center Sylvia Trottier Hall Front Entrance**

The Center will be housed on the second level of Sylvia Trottier Hall and will include six simulation labs and assessment areas, two classrooms, a lecture hall, a suite of nursing administrative and faculty offices, and several areas for facultystudent interaction.

The new entrance has been designed as a place of welcome and interdisciplinary collaboration. Simulation labs will mirror the settings in which nurses most often provide care: medical/surgical and pediatric/neonatal hospital rooms, an obstetrics room, examination rooms, and telehealth offices. Designated labs will accommodate undergraduate nursing, public health, and advanced nurse practitioner training.

“Students will experience patientcare situations that take place every day at hospitals, clinics, and homes in the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center,” says Dr. Paula Williams, Dean of the Division of Nursing and Health Professions. “As healthcare advances, Rivier adapts. The University’s commitment to providing students with a workforceready education is clearly reflected in its investment in Project Excel.” The projects will advance the University in a competitive marketplace, building on recent national and regional rankings.

P R O J E C T E L E V A T E

Project Elevate will enhance the delivery of business programs in management, finance, marketing, sport management, cybersecurity management, and homeland security.

“The renovations to Sylvia Trottier Hall will elevate our students’ experiences in many ways,” says Dr. Amir Toosi, Dean of the Division of Business and Security Studies. “The creation of a cybersecurity lab with advanced technology and the development of collaborative spaces for project-based learning will provide them with distinct advantages in their job searches and ability to advance their careers.”

An open, collaborative environment is an important component of the project. A modern, spacious conference room will welcome students, faculty, alumni, and visitors at the entrance to the Division of Business and Security Studies office suite. The Enterprise Zone will offer plenty of “huddle space” and will foster exciting opportunities for interaction and innovation. “Providing students with these settings allows them to experience firsthand the value of teamwork to reach business goals and to develop greater self-confidence personally and professionally,” says Dr. Toosi.

The Division of Business and Security Studies expanded its degree options in recent years, adding Sport Management and Cybersecurity Management. Undergraduate programs in Business Administration, Business Management, Finance, and Marketing, as well as all MBA programs, are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a global business education accrediting body. ACBSP assesses and accredits business programs that offer a rigorous educational experience and commitment to continuous quality improvement.

Rivier’s Office of Information Technology will share the lower level of Sylvia Trottier Hall. New offices, collaboration and workspaces, mechanical, electrical, and network rooms will be created for IT support personnel and technical services. Students will benefit from an IT Support Center offering an exceptional in-person tech support experience.

The transformation of Sylvia Trottier Hall began in May and will continue through August 2022. The University has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the projects. For more information, visit www.rivier.edu/support.