Goodwin University Moves Manufacturing Lab to St. Francis for COVID-19 Support

by Phil Moore

East Hartford, CT (03/31/2020) — On March 30, in an ongoing effort to put resources from its educational programs at the disposal of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodwin University moved its Advanced Manufacturing Mobile Lab to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

The Mobile Lab, an integral part of the Goodwin manufacturing program, traditionally serves two audiences. Using hands-on demonstrations, Goodwin faculty tour schools and special events throughout the state to familiarize students with career opportunities in modern manufacturing. The lab also plays a critical role in incumbent worker training, bringing on-site support to manufacturing companies whose workforces require specialized instruction.

While housed at St. Francis, the Mobile Lab will be at used at the discretion of the administration and staff as needs arise.

The loan of the mobile lab follows other outreach responses that Goodwin has offered while its campus is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 23, donations of medical and safety supplies typically used in Goodwin's academic programs, including latex gloves, medical gowns, safety glasses, masks, medical booties, and disinfectant wipes were delivered to St. Francis and Easter Connecticut Health Network. Later in the week, the University began making its residential facilities to available to area nurses as places to sleep between shifts and to isolate them from their families if necessary.

"While this is a time for concern, certainly, it is also a time for creativity," said Goodwin president Mark Scheinberg. "The Mobile Lab is going to be off the road until we get through this crisis, so it's better to move it where that it can be useful. We're looking at what else we have that might be used for the greater good? Right now, our manufacturing faculty are working out how to produce surgical masks using the 3-d printers we have right here on campus. Problem solving is everyone's responsibility."

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Goodwin University loans its mobile lab to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford to be at used at the discretion of the administration and staff as needs arise.