Trent University Praises Provincial Government for $9.8-million Investment in New Health Sciences Facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Addition to DNA Building to serve as platform for expanded Health Sciences programming

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Peterborough

A new Health Sciences Facility to be added to Trent University’s DNA Building will serve as a home for the University’s expanding Nursing and Psychology programs, and reinforce the University’s reputation as a leading institution for delivering quality health care programs to students.

The investment of $9.8-million by the Province was announced today at Trent University by Jeff Leal, MPP, Peterborough and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Bonnie M. Patterson, President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent, said, “This investment by the Province will advance Trent University’s vision for the expansion of its health sciences programs and strategically position the University to take advantage of emerging program opportunities in the growing health care field. We thank the Premier, Minister Milloy and Jeff Leal for their leadership and their generous support.”

The Health Sciences Facility will accommodate projected growth in Health Sciences courses in the Trent-Fleming Nursing program and Trent’s Psychology department.

Highlights of the facility include:

• New space to showcase Trent University’s Nursing program, and the expansion of collaborative Nursing partnerships with Fleming College and community colleges, including bridging programs for Fleming’s Registered Practical Nursing program
• Construction of a new nursing centre learning lab
• Home for a proposed, new Master’s of Nursing degree program
• New and relocated labs for the Psychology department, including a child observation lab
• A new home for Trent’s Emotional Health research lab and the Canada Research Chair in Emotion and Health
• A new Master’s in Psychology degree (approved by Trent’s Senate, government approval pending)
• Expanded facilities for graduate students in Psychology and Nursing
• A new platform to support the networking of Trent faculty affiliated with the centre of health studies
• Opportunities to create new research linkages between Psychology faculty and Teacher Education faculty, as part of potential Master’s in Teacher Education degree to be considered for the future
• Opportunities to backfill current facilities with emerging needs in the sciences -- including new programs in Bio Materials, Materials Sciences and new graduate programs
• A two storey, 46,000 square foot facility, adjacent to the existing DNA Building complex – $17.2 million total investment

“Trent’s new Health Sciences Facility will be a driver to establish new collaborations with Fleming and the college sector, together with the new Peterborough Regional Health Centre, the Local Health Integration Network and emerging organizations such as ICAV,” said President Patterson. “I am confident that as we head to our 50th anniversary in 2014, Trent’s Health Sciences Facility will become a hallmark for excellence in teaching, research and the creation of new strategic partnerships.”

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For more information contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer, (705) 748-1011, ext. 6185