Timeline
| Rivier University, 1933-2021
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The Passing Scene For many, the journey has traversed decades. For others, the journey has scarcely begun. For all, the journey has been transforming. |
Timeline
| 1933 | – Formal opening of Rivier College in Hudson, NH. Founded by Sr. Madeleine of Jesus, p.m. with 7 faculty and 3 students. Sr. Madeleine of Jesus, p.m. President: 1933-47 |
| 1934 | – Rivier College enrolls 24 students: 19 residents and 5 commuters |
| 1935 | – Pope Pius XI bestows his Papal Blessing on Rivier College – New Hampshire State Legislature formally charters the College |
| 1936 | – First degree conferred on B.Ed. transfer student, June Fortune |
| 1937 | – First Commencement exercises with 3 students receiving degrees – First issue of College News |
| 1938 | – College granted permission to accept international students – Centennial anniversary celebration of Saint Marie Rivier’s death |
| 1940 | – Visit by author Mrs. Corinne Rocheleau Rouleau, who later donated her personal collection to Regina Library |
| 1941 | – Transfer of Rivier College campus from Hudson to Nashua, NH – The new campus includes four tracts of land with four buildings |
| 1942 | – Visit of Cardinal Villeneuve of Quebec following his visit with the Oblate Fathers in Hudson, NH |
| 1943 | – Expansion of College in Molloy Hall for classes |
| 1944 | – Installation of Our Lady – Queen of the Campus in the Sunken Garden behind Madeleine Hall |
| 1945 | – Launching of the Rivier College Guild – First building constructed on campus: Auditorium/Classrooms (now Memorial Hall) – First graduation on campus |
| 1946 | – Expansion with the construction of St. Joseph Annex for chemistry lab and rooms – Departure of Sr. Madeleine of Jesus for France; she returned in the autumn of 1947 Sr. St. Pascal, p.m. President: 1947-53 |
| 1947 | – Visit of Vatican Prelate, Cardinal Tisserant |
| 1948 | – College accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| 1949 | – Former auditorium becomes Chapel |
| 1950 | – First issue of the Rivier Literary Magazine |
| 1951 | – Expansion with the renovation of the cafeteria |
| 1952 | – Organization of the Graduate Division |
| 1953 | – New Hampshire Legislature grants Rivier charger to confer master’s degrees Sr. Marie Carmella, p.m. President: 1953-55 |
| 1954 | – Dr. Jeannette E. Vidal ’37 awarded Magnificat Medal by Cardinal Stritch |
| 1955 | – Golden Jubilee of Sr. Madeleine of Jesus, Foundress of Rivier College Sr. Adelard-Marie, p.m. President: 1955-57 |
| 1956 | – Grant received from the Ford Foundation |
| 1957 | – Gift of the Monsignor Gilbert’s book collection to the Library Sr. Clarice Dion, p.m. President: 1957-69 |
| 1958 | – Celebration of Rivier’s 25th anniversary: Sr. Madeleine of Jesus was the Guest of Honor, and Mrs. Rose Kennedy was the Keynote speaker |
| 1959 | – Regina Library and Mendel Hall built |
| 1960 | – Guild Hall, a dorm for resident students, constructed – Alumnae Office established; College has approximately 1,200 alumnae |
| 1962 | – Louis Pasteur Hall built with chemistry and physics labs |
| 1964 | – Construction of Trinity Hall, a dorm for resident students, and Dion Center – First Humanities series offered to the public – First Honorary degrees awarded at Commencement |
| 1965 | – Death of Sr. Madeleine of Jesus, p.m., Foundress of Rivier College |
| 1966 | – First R-AID Day begun by Susan Zator ’66 |
| 1967 | – Construction of Adrienne Hall Administration building Sr. Gloria Lemieux, p.m. President: 1969-73 |
| 1972 | – First study abroad for French, Art & Civilization students |
| 1974 | Sr. Doris Benoit, p.m. President: 1974-80 |
| 1976 | – Presentation Hall constructed as a Sisters’ residence; now used as a student residence |
| 1980 | Sr. Jeanne Perreault, p.m. President: 1980-97 |
| 1981 | – Non-Traditional students begin studies – First Alumni Association craft fair held |
| 1982 | – New wing and renovations completed in Memorial Hall |
| 1983 | – Celebration of Rivier’s Golden Jubilee – Nursing programs introduced with the establishment of a collaborative venture with St. Joseph Hospital |
| 1984 | – Muldoon Health and Fitness Center constructed |
| 1986 | – Credit for prior learning initiated |
| 1989 | – Rivier partners with Sunset Heights Elementary School in Nashua “Adopt-a-School” program |
| 1990 | – Buddy Program & Project H.U.G. initiated – First “Heritage Day” celebrated |
| 1991 | – School of Undergraduate Studies becomes co-educational with 35 men enrolled as full-time students |
| 1993 | – Construction of the Education Center |
| 1994 | – Education Center dedicated by Bishop Leo O’Neil, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire – Peace & Justice series launched |
| 1996 | – Bi-Centennial celebration of the Founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary – Project “So-Prepared” (a service learning program) initiated – College on World Wide Web Sr. Lucille Thibodeau, p.m. President: 1997-2001 |
| 1997 | – Outreach for Black Unity Partnership Charter signed – Elderhostel at College – RISE (Rivier Institute for Senior Education) program inaugurated – First edition of Rivier Community Chronicles – Annex added to Louis Pasteur Hall and renamed Sylvia Trottier Hall |
| 1998 | – Dedication of Sylvia Trottier Hall by Bishop Francis Christian, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of NH – Academic structure reformatted from four to two schools – Sr. Helen Prejean speaks about the death penalty – Renovation of Molloy Hall for Administration |
| 1999 | – Maya Angelou speaks about her life experiences |
| 2000 | – Construction of New Dorm for resident students |
| 2001 | Dr. William Farrell, First Lay President: 2001-11 |
| 2002 | – Enchanted Forest dedicated at the Early Childhood Center – First lay President appointed: Dr. William Farrell, Ph.D. – Inauguration of the 11th President on August 26, 2002 |
| 2003 | – Rivier celebrates Seven Decades of Excellence – Seminar Series “Living the Mission” begun |
| 2004 | – Rivier’s first-ever capital campaign – Richard Harrington retires after 39 years of teaching biology at Rivier – Oct. 14, environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. brings his message to Rivier – New campus signage unveiled |
| 2005 | – Accelerated executive M.B.A program in organizational leadership offered – Collaboration between New Horizons and Rivier College established – For the first time Rivier honors a charitable organization versus an individual at Commencement – Rivier’s Raiders unveil a new athletics logo – Rivier continues to add to its online classes – Rivier launches its new website – Rivier celebrates the 20th anniversary of its nursing programs |
| 2006 | – The McLean Center for Finance and Economics was opened within the College’s Academic Computer Center in Sylvia Trottier Hall |
| 2007 | – Construction of new wing and renovation of the existing Regina Library – New five-year Psychology Program is launched |
| 2008 | – Celebration of Rivier’s 75th Anniversary – “Lasting Impressions”, a Buy-a-Brick project is launched by the Office of Development & Alumni Relations – Launch of Rivier’s first doctoral degree program: Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning |
| 2009 | – Renovation of Athletic Field: installation of artificial turf, introduction of men and women lacrosse and women field hockey – Opening of the new Clinical Psychology Lab – Updates made at both Trinity Hall and Guild Hall – Two Facebook pages initiated: one for alumni and one for prospective students – Fritz Wetherbee, reporter for WMUR TV’s New Hampshire Chronicle, serves as Commencement speaker May 16, 2009 – Sr. Lucille Thibodeau, p.m. publishes Crucible and Charism: a biography of Sr. M. Madeleine of Jesus, p.m. founder of Rivier College – Ed.D. classes begin in fall semester |
| 2010 | -Rose H. Arthur, Th.D. retires as Executive Director of RISE (Rivier Institute for Senior Education) -The Muldoon Center expansion is completed -President William Farrell, Ph.D. announces his plan to retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year – A Presidential Search Committee is established – Rivier establishes an online academic calendar – Dr. Joseph Allard, Vice-President for Academic Outreach, retires – Rivier hosts visiting faculty from universities in China – Online courses become available to Rivier students |
| 2011 | – Sr. Cecile Gamache retires as Assistant Finance Director Sr. Paula Marie Buley, IHM President: 2012 – Present |
| 2012 | – Rivier College officially becomes Rivier University – Office of Global Engagement is established |
| 2013 | – Rivier celebrates its 80th Anniversary – Launch of Rivier’s 2nd doctoral degree program: Doctor of Psychology in Counseling and School Psychology – Global Scholars Honors Program is initiated |
| 2014 | – Gateway projects transform Rivier’s Campus – Resurrection Chapel is renovated and rededicated – Learning Commons is created |
| 2015 | – Heritage Plaza is dedicated – Rivier launches Doctorate of Nursing Practice program – Partnership with The Learning House; Rivier University Online begins – Exchange Program with Beijing City University for Biotechnology |
| 2016 | – IT Partners with Ellucian – Employment Promise Program Initiated – University receives $650,000 National Science Foundation Grant – Launch of Rivier’s 3rd doctoral degree program: Doctor of Nursing Practice |
| 2017 | – University launches Vision 2020 strategy and the Center for Behavioral Health Professions and Workforce Development – Clement Street buildings and landscape renovations commence |
| 2018 | – University receives $2.04 million Health Resources and Services Administration Grant |
| 2019 | – University breaks ground on construction of Science and Innovation Center, the hallmark of Vision 2020 – Joanne Merrill Field and Linda Robinson Pavillion are dedicated |
| 2020 | – Science and Innovation Center is dedicated |
| 2021 | – University launches men’s and women’s ice hockey – $1 million donation launches Projects Excel and Elevate to renovate Sylvia Trottier Hall |
| 2022 | – Saint Marie Rivier Canonized by Pope Francis on May 15, 2022 – Rivier begins celebration of 90th anniversary (2022-2023) – Renovation of Sylvia Trottier Hall transforms business and nursing education – Opening of the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center – The University breaks ground on Rivier Village, apartment style suites |
| 2023 | – Psy.D. program achieves full APA Accreditation status – Launches new online master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, Nursing, and Cybersecurity Leadership – Introduces new Post-Master’s Certificate program in Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner |