Endicott College Unveils New Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences
Two years ago, the Endicott College community convened to mark the groundbreaking of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to nursing and sport science. Today, that building was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that drew members of the Gull and Boston communities as well as Bill and Joyce Cummings of Cummings Foundation, whose historic $20 million partnership with the College inspired and laid the groundwork for the new Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
“Bill and Joyce have been staunch and influential supporters of Endicott College,” said Endicott College President Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D. “From sponsoring internships and hiring our students post-graduation to their continued generosity across campus and the reason we are here today—to celebrate the opening of the Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Endicott College.”
“Our warmest congratulations to all responsible for imagining, designing, and constructing this marvelous new home,” said Bill Cummings at the ceremony. “Endicott is rapidly accelerating—many call it a great march forward—and to all of you undergraduate and graduate healthcare professionals: Go forth from Endicott into a lifetime of wonderful service. Take with you the goodwill and blessings of everyone here today.”
The Cummings School is the feather in the cap of a spate of high-profile summer projects, including the implementation of wayfinding signage; new turf, scoreboard, and locker rooms at Hempstead Stadium; a new dance studio; a new front entrance; expanded fitness center; and a refresh of the Diane M. Halle Library.
The Cummings School also opens at a pivotal time in Endicott’s trajectory; last fall, the College launched its first-ever $75 million comprehensive fundraising campaign. Building on all three campaign pillars (Strength of Story, Power of Place, and Transformational Learning), the Cummings School will bolster Endicott’s hands-on approach to nursing and sport science education while building a skilled, work-ready cadre of nurses and health sciences professionals.
“I chose Endicott’s nursing program for the diverse internships, clinical opportunities, volunteer trips, experienced faculty, senior thesis, and the sense of community I felt walking through campus,” said nursing major Paige McKee ’24. “Now here I am years later, standing before you, celebrating the opening of a new state-of-the-art nursing and health sciences building. Do you think I picked the right school?!”
The Cummings School’s nursing programs will also serve as a talent pipeline to blunt the local and national nursing shortage while cementing Endicott and the North Shore region as a premier destination for both the nursing and health sciences fields.
Last year, Endicott announced a partnership with Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals that made those the preferred clinical sites for more than 600 nursing students (a portion of which will be named Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospital Scholars). Two new degree programs, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice, were also launched in 2021.
Meanwhile, on campus, the Cummings School completes the central academic quad, linking to the Curtis L. Gerrish School of Business, Ginger Judge Science Center, and Hempstead Commons (and the Wax Academic Center by extension).
Inside the Cummings School
The Cummings School is a modern expression of academic excellence with four floors featuring contemporary flourishes and soaring views over campus and the Atlantic Ocean. Critically, the building also brings together nursing and sport science students for collaborative opportunities, allying the health sciences under one roof.
“The Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences stands as a testament to our dedication to providing students with the finest education, firmly grounded in experiential learning,” said DiSalvo. “It is here that we will nurture the minds and hearts of future nurses, healthcare professionals, and exercise scientists who will go on to reshape the world of health and wellness.”
The Endicott Hospital—comprising three advanced laboratories equipped with innovative educational technologies, high-fidelity simulators, interactive lab spaces, traditional classrooms, advanced tools, and other immersive environments—offers nursing students a space to learn and practice the skills needed to succeed in their careers.
Occupying the third and fourth floors is the School of Sport Science. According to Dean of Sport Science Deborah Swanton, athletic training and exercise science students will build and strengthen their clinical skills in three state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, including the human performance lab, therapeutic lab, and modalities lab with a hydrotherapy room.
Students in sport management and esports management will hone their entrepreneurial skills and engage in learning about the intricacies of the global and expanding sports and esports industries in boardroom-style learning spaces with the most updated technology.
“The building includes many areas for students to study and engage in group work,” Swanton said. “What is most exciting is that academic programs are now located together in the heart of the campus. We look forward to collaborating with faculty and staff across disciplines to create opportunities for all students.”
Echoing that sentiment was student Anthony Gugliuzza ’25: “Our institution is now one step ahead of the curve, more innovative than our competitors, and willing to adapt to the changing times and embrace the modern era because they truly care about our success in a world that is ever-changing.”
Learn more about the Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences and the School of Sport Science.