STCC awarded $306,643 grant to expand patient simulation lab
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College received from the Healey-Driscoll administration a $306,643 Skills Capital Grant to purchase six patient simulators that students enrolled in School of Health and Patient Simulation and workforce development programs will use for training.
The competitive Skills Capital Grants are awarded by the state’s Workforce Skills Cabinet. This grant award will allow STCC to expand access to maternal and neonatal training for students in the School of Health and Patient Simulation. The new simulators will be patients of color as well as senior, maternity and neonatal patients, which expands the type of patient care that students can access.
An STCC student works with a patient simulator.
Patient simulators are life-size, computer-controlled teaching tools that mimic human anatomy and physiology and provide a hands-on, immersive and realistic learning experience. Staff, who are located in an unseen control room, provide a voice for the simulator to interact with students.
The addition of six new simulators increases the number of students each lab section can accommodate, which also minimizes scheduling conflicts. The college can also expand access to programs offered through the Workforce Development division and high school dual enrollment.
STCC is in the top 5 percent of the largest centers for simulation training in the country, said Christopher Scott, Dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation.
“We are thrilled to have received funding for the additional patient simulators, which will expand opportunities to more students as well as increase diversity in the lab,” Scott said. “The simulators are an important part of the learning experience. Students train in a safe, controlled environment without running the risk of harming a patient. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their support.”
Scott said the new simulators are expected to be available for students in the fall of 2024.
STCC is among a group of 65 high schools, colleges and educational institutions in Massachusetts that received Skills Capital Grants for fiscal year 2023-2024.
The $15 million split among the 65 will support schools and institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training programs across Massachusetts.
“We want to ensure that what students learn in school helps them get where they want to go, while also meeting our workforce needs,” Healey said in a news release. “These Skills Capital Grants will ensure our students and adult learners have access to innovative technology, equipment and spaces to gain the skills they need to prepare them for successful careers in high demand industries.”
“Schools receiving Skills Capital Grants partner with local businesses and align curriculum and credentials with industry standards, ensuring our students are prepared for when they enter the workforce,” Driscoll said in the release. “These grants are a win for our students, schools, employers and local communities.”
The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by the state’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which brings together the Secretaries of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services. This Cabinet works to align education, economic development, and workforce policies to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in every region of Massachusetts. The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses, as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand to maximize hiring opportunities.
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu