Friday, April 18, 2025
4/18/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - The Vermont Technical College will officially become Vermont State University “VTSU” this July 1, 2023. VTSU nursing programs plan to embark on a comprehensive effort to increase capacity by 268 in the practical nursing and associate degree in nursing programs. The congressionally directed funds awarded by Senator Patrick Leahy’s office totaling $6,300,000.00 will be primarily used to construct and renovate new learning spaces at our Johnson, Williston and Castleton campuses, including the replacement of aging equipment at multiple sites, completion of the newly constructed lab space at the Lyndon campus, and the purchase of additional equipment to supplement the simulation programming and skills labs used statewide. The Johnson campus budget of $2,304,750.00 will support construction and renovation of a nursing education center in the current second floor library space that includes updating two large classrooms, adding skills and simulation labs that are fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, and adding a virtual reality immersion suite. Office space for faculty/staff and student study/lounge space will also be considered in the design of the nursing education center. The Williston campus budget of $2,648,530 will support the repurposing of three separate spaces. First, an existing classroom space will be converted into skills lab space that will add six patient care stations to the current skills lab space located across the hall in the same building. Second, the first floor of the 700 ft? building will be fully renovated to create a nursing education center with classroom space, skills lab and simulation lab space, as well as a virtual reality immersion suite. Lastly, $500,000 is allocated to support the purchase of a building adjacent to the campus that will be renovated to support office and administrative needs of the nursing programs, potentially classroom and/or lab space. The space assessment and design phase of the project will determine which spaces are designated for lab/VR/classroom/offices. This budget also supports installation of state-of-the-art equipment in these new spaces. The Castleton campus budget of $200,000 will support installation of a new telepresence classroom in the Honors House classroom space ($75,000). Additional funds will be used to install AV equipment for simulation and purchase new beds for the skills lab. These upgrades will support relocation of VTSU PN and ADN students from the CCV Rutland campus to the Castleton campus and allow for doubling enrollment in those course sections. The Lyndon campus budget of $150,000 will support completion of the Lyndon nursing clinical education center. The space is in need of additional AV equipment, cabinetry and storage, as well as furniture. Additional funds are allocated for purchase of a power stretcher for use with our simulation van and birthing simulation mannikin. Currently, a manually extending stretcher is used which is resulting in excessive physical labor by the simulation director when transporting the birthing simulator. Funds are also allocated for AV equipment installation at simulation labs in Randolph, White River Junction, Bennington, Brattleboro, and St. Albans. Lastly, the purchase of 25 additional new beds is included as most hospital beds in lab spaces state wide are older and outdated, and do not function correctly, nor do they represent what students utilize in the clinical setting.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).