As 2017 draws to a close, it is time for us to reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges ahead of us. A few weeks ago, my office hosted an event entitled, “65 by ’25… Many Paths, One Future: The Equity Imperative,” at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton. We heard an enlightening address from Dr. Michael T. Nettles, ETS senior vice president for research, and recognized four New Jersey programs for excellence and equity in education.
TCNJ has taken an important step to promote a safe and healthy campus community with the purchase of 54 state-of-the-art Powerheart® G5 AED devices.
The college is replacing its 16 existing devices and adding 38 additional units to expand access to this life-saving equipment.
After the installation process is completed, essentially every building on TCNJ’s campus will be equipped with at least one AED device. The TCNJ Campus Police Department, EMS, and athletic trainers also will carry the new portable AED devices.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.,” said Gary Miller, TCNJ’s director of compliance and privacy officer. “The acquisition of these devices furthers the college’s commitment to the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, as well as the visitors to our campus.”
The Powerheart® G5 uses advanced features such as automatic shock delivery, dual-language rescue prompting, and rapid shock times to make it as easy as possible for rescuers to provide effective therapy to sudden cardiac arrest victims. The device also self-tests every day to ensure it is ready to operate, and sounds a warning if it needs maintenance or the battery becomes low.
“These devices are designed to make it as easy as possible to provide fast, effective therapy to a sudden cardiac arrest victim,” said Mark Peters, Eastern Regional Manager of Cardiac Science®. “The commitment to deploying AEDs throughout the campus facilities represents a best practice.”
The college, through its trained EMS providers, will offer CPR/AED training at no charge to volunteers on campus.
Dedication of New SigmaPharm Laboratories Organic Chemistry Suite
The new SigmaPharm Laboratories Organic Chemistry Suite, which is part of TCNJ’s new Chemistry Addition, was dedicated on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at a ceremony in the new STEM Forum.
TCNJ President Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein and School of Science Dean Dr. Jeffrey M. Osborn both shared remarks outlining the importance and impact of the new facilities across TCNJ and thanking the SigmaPharm Laboratories corporate family, especially Dr. Spiro Spireas, Chairman and CEO, and his wife, Dr. Amalia Kassapidis-Spireas, for their generous gift.
President Gitenstein (left) presented Dr. Spiro Spireas and Dr. Amalia Kassapidis-Spireas (second and third from left) each with a TCNJ President’s Seal Medallion. They were joined by Dr. Jeffrey Osborn (right), dean of the School of Science.
In recognition of their generosity and commitment to the College, President Gitenstein presented Dr. Spiro Spireas and Dr. Amalia Kassapidis-Spireas each with a TCNJ President’s Seal Medallion. The plaque bearing the suite’s new name was also unveiled, followed by tours of the new facility.
The new SigmaPharm Laboratories Organic Chemistry Suite will be utilized for the department’s sophomore-level and upper-level laboratory courses, as well as its robust undergraduate research program.
The open design of the suite intentionally supports the kind of powerful learning that TCNJ’s mission requires. The spaces were specifically designed to maximize interdisciplinary connections and collaborative learning among students and faculty in a research-based curriculum.
The goal for the SigmaPharm Laboratories Organic Chemistry Suite is to provide an inner-connected set of labs that are designed for 21st century pedagogy and research in organic chemistry. In particular, the state-of-the-art fume hoods are located around the perimeter, with adjacent but separated long runs of lab benches. This will allow for a clean separation, yet easy transition, from wet chemistry to dry bench surface for writing and reading. Moreover, the center of each lab is designed for key instrumentation, with ergonomic and efficient access to the long benches and a center island.
The Suite includes two organic chemistry laboratories, each with an entry backpack/coat storage room, and a shared preparatory laboratory. The total Suite encompasses nearly 4,000 net square-feet.
Outside of the formal laboratory Suite, the first floor includes an important informal learning space, an open student commons.
Categories: Public 4-Year Schools
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