The University

The University

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History

Rivier University is named in honor of Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier, Foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. Established in 1933 in Hudson, New Hampshire, the University moved in 1941 to the present campus site in Nashua. The University was incorporated in 1935 under the laws of the State of New Hampshire, and through two separate charters was invested with the power to confer both graduate and undergraduate degrees. Rivier is recognized for both on-campus and online programs that serve the needs of traditional-aged students as well as adult learners.

In conjunction with the bicentennial of the founding of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary in 1796, the University formally recommitted to Anne Marie Rivier’s mission of teaching and serving the poor by making social justice and service to others a special focus of its work. The University’s core curriculum, Journeys of Transformation, educates students for lives as servant-leaders in an increasingly interdependent global community, where understanding and engaging with others is essential not only to individual success but also to a stable and sustainable world.

As part of its strategic plan, Rivier has underscored its longstanding commitment to educating the whole person through a University-wide model of strengths-based well-being. By focusing on what students do well, Rivier fosters positive self-concept, a sense of purpose, and an alignment of strengths with life goals and career opportunities. Rivier faculty and staff are focused on student success, providing transformative learning experiences both in and beyond the classroom. Through service learning, faculty-led trips, study abroad, internships, student research, leadership activities, Rivier’s unique Employment Promise Program, and other high-impact educational practices, the University prepares students for meaningful lives and rewarding careers.

Rivier’s rich history of supporting the academic and personal success of all its students is reflected both in broad-based learning in the liberal arts and in programs of professional practice, including business, education, nursing, and professional psychology. Having gained University status in 2012, Rivier now has over 70 undergraduate and graduate programs, including three doctoral programs, in education (Ed.D.), nursing (DNP), and counseling and school psychology (Psy.D.).

Core Mission

Founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus, Rivier University is a Catholic institution of higher education dedicated to transforming hearts and minds to serve the world.

The Rivier Mission

Committed to the faith heritage, intellectual tradition, and social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the University educates the whole person in the context of an academic community that cultivates critical thought, sound judgment, and respect for all people. This community supports the intellectual growth of all its members while offering them opportunities for social, cultural, moral, and spiritual development. The challenge to the University community is to search for truth through the dialogue between faith and reason.

Rivier creates an environment in which integrated learning is the shared responsibility of students, faculty, staff, and administrators, and is pursued in all the curricular and co-curricular programs of the University. To participate in the life of Rivier University is to strive for academic excellence, to take responsibility for ourselves and for others, and to engage in dialogue about basic human issues facing society, especially the plight of the poor and powerless. The University extends to all of its members, and also to the greater community, an invitation to join in intellectual inquiry and dialogue.

Download and share our Rivier University Mission.

Accreditation and Memberships

Through its Mission-focused curriculum, Rivier University seeks to:

Develop Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World through study focused on engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring, in:

• The sciences and mathematics
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• History
• Languages
• The arts

Develop Intellectual and Practical Skills that will be practiced extensively across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects and standards for performance, in the areas of:  

• Inquiry and analysis
• Critical and creative thinking
• Written and oral communication
• Quantitative literacy
• Information literacy
• Teamwork and problem solving

Develop Personal and Social Responsibility reinforced through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges, including:

• Civic knowledge and engagement - local and global
• Intercultural knowledge and competence
• Ethical reasoning and action
• Foundations and skills for lifelong learning

Engage in Integrative and Applied Learning demonstrated through the application of knowledge skills and dispositions to new settings and complex problems including:

• The synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies.

Foster a Sense of the Sacred and of the Dignity of the Human Person, particularly as expressed through the Catholic Tradition, by active engagement with intellectual traditions and living communities, developed by:

• Recognition of Catholicism’s contribution to the development of the whole person
• Appreciation of the sacred meaning and purpose of life
• Inquiry into the essence of authentic human community
• Respect for the belief systems of others.

Academic Assessment

Academic assessment at Rivier University measures a student’s achievement of both specific course objectives and the University’s overall goals of fostering articulate and reflective individuals who have achieved the intellectual independence, critical judgment, grounding in values, and professional knowledge to contribute significantly to society.

Individual course grades reflect the instructor’s assessment of how well the student has achieved the objectives of the course, mastered its specific content, and demonstrated University-wide competencies at a level appropriate for that course and subject. These University-wide competencies include the following:

• An understanding of course content-the information, concepts, theories, or skills required of the specific subject and discipline;
• The ability to apply information, concepts, or skills from one part of the course to other areas and solve problems using this knowledge or these skills;
• The ability to communicate one’s understanding and knowledge with clarity and persuasiveness- orally, visually, quantitatively and/or in writing;
• The ability to think critically about course material in the light of other information, theories, or points of view, demonstrating an awareness of the implications and/or limitations of any one perspective or approach;
• The ability to synthesize course material, discovering larger patterns or relationships, discriminating among multiple views, and/or viewing the subject within a cross-disciplinary or global perspective;
• The ability to make and support value judgments about the social or ethical implications of course material or judge between competing solutions.

Participation in Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

As a part of its stated mission regarding the pursuit of academic excellence, Rivier University is committed to assessing student attitudes, student achievement, student satisfaction, and career development.

Assessment activities may include standardized testing, departmental evaluations, course evaluations, placement tests, surveys, portfolios of student work, group or individual interviews, or classroom research.

The information obtained through these college-wide assessment activities is used primarily to improve students’ academic experiences, programs, courses, and quality of University services.

Philosophy of Graduate Studies

Graduate education at Rivier University provides advanced and specialized professional training beyond the baccalaureate degree. Most of the University’s graduate students are practitioners in particular fields and bring a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to the classroom. These individuals are seeking to strengthen their academic and professional competence, to develop professional knowledge in their disciplines, and to relate their research to the investigations of other authorities.

Graduate programs at Rivier University are innovative and respond to the social, technological, and economic changes affecting intellectual and professional life. These programs are effective resources for business, healthcare, social, educational, and cultural development in the region.

Founded on the principles of human dignity and value inherent in the University’s Roman Catholic tradition, Rivier’s commitment to quality programs is realized through a network of full-time and part-time faculty who are dedicated to the education of socially responsible people.

Graduate faculty, students, and administrative staff at Rivier University are characterized by their love of learning and their ability to develop and apply their knowledge. Through ethical responsibility, they seek to be transformative leaders in an era of increasing global interdependence and collaboration.

Goals of Graduate Studies

Through its graduate and doctoral curriculum, Rivier University enables students to:

• Further develop creative approaches to problem solving, promote intellectual curiosity, and engender a lifelong commitment to learning;
• Engage in ethical personal and professional conduct, as well as pursue a strong commitment to social justice, in order to serve the disciplines and communities in which students will participate;
• Develop a sense of the sacred and of the dignity of the human person, particularly as expressed through the Catholic tradition;
• Develop the ability to place one’s discipline in an historical, cultural, and global perspective;
• Apply advanced critical and creative reasoning, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and demonstrate advanced communication ability in a variety of modalities;
• Function as skilled professionals in their chosen careers, or consolidate an advanced understanding of their disciplines.

University Facilities

The Campus

The University is located on a 68-acre campus one mile from downtown Nashua in a quiet residential area. Easy access to Boston provides students with opportunities for intellectual, cultural, and social enrichment. Proximity to the seacoast and to the White Mountains of New Hampshire offers additional recreational advantages. The services of Logan and Manchester Airports, Boston railway stations, and local bus lines allow convenient travel to and from campus.

Academic Technology Services

Information Technology provides students with technology to facilitate coursework and research. Six computer labs are located across campus. Rivier virtual desktops are available from any device connected to the internet. The Regina Library also has a classroom equipped with 23 PCs as well as many other high-speed computers that can be used for research, writing a paper, completing assignments, printing, etc. The library has a limited number of laptop computers to loan to students on a short-term temporary basis. All computers are connected to the Rivier University network and provide direct access to the Internet. Standard software includes Microsoft Office 365. Courses are taught using the latest industry and academic standard software.

The Academic Support Center

Rivier’s Academic Support Center offers a number of services to all Rivier students. Staffed by professional writing consultants, and peer tutors, the Center serves students of all abilities. Writing consultants assist students with their writing projects in any of their courses. Peer tutors provide help in all major disciplines; some lead supplemental instruction sessions for select courses. Any Rivier student may take advantage of reserved appointments and drop-in services provided by writing consultants and content-specific peer tutors. 

Adrienne Hall

Adrienne Hall houses the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid and Student Accounts. Each student is assigned a financial aid advisor to help answer questions and provide guidance. From assistance with filling out the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) for the first time to helping students to determine how much aid to accept-Financial Aid and Student Accounts staff is located here to answer questions and provide guidance The Office of the Registrar is available to help students with requests for transcripts, registration, course schedules, transfer credits, and more. Adrienne Hall is a destination for students where they can gain access to information related to their complete academic footprint at Rivier.

Benoit Hall

The Division of Counseling and Psychology and the Division of Education are located in the University’s Benoit Hall. The 43,000 square-foot building contains state-of-the-art classrooms with advanced technological resources, an educational resource center, counseling rooms with one-way observation windows; classroom laboratories; a computer laboratory; and faculty offices.

​Dion Campus Center

Dion Center, the University’s only 24/7 facility sits at the geographic center of campus. This facility is home to the University Bookstore, the Dining Center, the Office of Public Safety & Security, the Office of Student Affairs, Student Engagement, Multicultural Student Engagement, Campus Ministry, Student Government, and the Student Organization Club room, and many student-centered engagement offices. Dion Center also houses several meeting and conference spaces (including the 5,000 sq. ft. Dion Reception Room). Services provided by Public Safety include assistance with room lockouts, lost property, incident reporting, medical assistance, motor vehicle assistance, escort service, and campus security and crime prevention. In the Dining Center, students will find signature brands and enticing menu selections. There is a wide variety of fresh food designed to satisfy everyone’s appetite. The Office of Campus Ministry serves the spiritual, social and personal needs of the campus community, providing opportunities where values are challenged, and faith is affirmed.

Heritage Plaza

Heritage Plaza is a place of sacred beauty reflecting the University’s Catholic heritage and a campus focal point. The Plaza is located on South Main Street in the heart of Rivier’s campus. Heritage Plaza is comprised of a main gathering space featuring the sculpture; a short walkway to a circular terrace of personalized brick pavers donated by alumni, friends, faculty, and staff; and steps leading down to the Campus Quad. The commissioned bronze statue was created by sculptress Silvia Nicolas of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. In its entirety, the plaza structure provides a clear path across campus from Madeleine Hall (the Office of Admissions) through to the Campus Quad and Dion Center.

Laboratories: Behavioral Science and Clinical Psychology Labs

Psychology students have access to a clinical laboratory which offers a room for mock therapy sessions, testing and assessment activities, and supervised clinical experiments. The facility is equipped with a one-way observation mirror and audio visual recording equipment. In addition, the laboratory has a computer room and a separate instruction area and gathering space for student interaction. There is also a lab for psychotherapy simulation training using an innovative application with AI to teach the major psychotherapeutic approaches. The simulation training was developed by Genius Academy in consultation with APA.

The department also has a behavioral science laboratory that offers space and instrumentation to design experiments, collect data, analyze, and interpret results obtained from original research studies conducted under the mentorship of Rivier faculty. The lab houses five computer stations equipped with Empirisoft MediaLab and DirectRT software packages, which allow for millisecond precision in measuring cognition and perception from human subjects and with SPSS for data analysis.

The Learning Commons

The Learning Commons is a destination that fosters collaborative learning and student success. This 15,000-square-foot facility houses academic support services and provides opportunities for students to work in teams, use digital resources, receive assistance from peer mentors and tutors, and access career services. The Learning Center includes the Academic Support Center, Career & Academic Advising, Disability Services, Counseling and Wellness Center, University Advancement and Alumni Relations. Assembling these services in one location has been shown to positively impact student learning outcomes.

​Linda Robinson Pavilion

In October of 2018, Rivier University broke ground on adding an Athletics Pavilion to the multi-sport turf field to enhance the game-day experience for Raider student-athletes and fans alike. The Pavilion provides stadium-style seating and facilities for fans, four team locker rooms, an athletic training room with workstations, and a press box which will allow for live stats and video for all events hosted at Joanne Merrill Field. The stadium stands atop one of the highest points in the city of Nashua and serves not only as the home of Rivier Raider Athletics, but also as a resource for local youth and community groups.

Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall is one of the main classroom buildings on campus and the location of the Office of Global Engagement and the Rivier University Art Gallery. For anyone wanting to spend a semester abroad, Global Engagement coordinates these opportunities, as well as providing teaching trips to places like Costa Rica, Africa, and China. The Office of Global Engagement runs academic, co-curricular, and campus-wide programs that help students better understand nations and cultures around the world, join intercultural partnerships, and travel to other countries through immersive experiences. The Art Gallery at Rivier University presents exhibitions that complement and enhance the University’s academic offerings. Exhibitions and receptions for the artists are free and open to the public.

Muldoon Health and Fitness Center

Rivier students, faculty and staff utilize the Muldoon Health and Fitness Center in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. The Fitness Center and Gymnasium is named for Pelham, New Hampshire resident Teresa Quigly Muldoon after she provided a substantial bequest to the University in 1984. The Fitness Center is an addition to the Muldoon Gymnasium and was opened in January of 2011. The building is home to Rivier Athletics as it houses all the coaches offices, training room and serves as the home court for Men’s/Women’s Basketball and Men’s/Women’s Volleyball.

Facility Information:

• 15,485 Square Foot Facility, including Fitness Room and Gymnasium
• Cardio machines
• 2,500 Square Feet of Heavy Lifting space - Free weights, power platforms
• Bathroom, Shower and Locker Room areas
• 2,000 Square Foot Athletic Training Clinic
• 6 work stations, 3 tape stations, hot tub, cold tub, hydro collator, electric muscle stimulation/ultrasound machine

Raider Diamond

Raider Diamond, the home of the Raiders Softball team, is a beautiful natural grass facility.  Measuring 200 feet from home plate to every area of the outfield, Raider Diamond is one of the most plush grass fields in the area. An extensive improvement to the facility in the summer of 2019 gave the field a much needed facelift. The Diamond was transformed into the best Softball facility in the area as dugouts, bullpen, stadium style seating and a state of the art press box were constructed. The diamond is located on top of the hill past Joanne Merrill Field. Parking is located behind Silvia Trotter Hall off Clement Street. 

Regina Library

The Regina Library is the resource libraries for students, faculty and staff. The library staff, in collaboration with the University faculty, serves the research needs of the community. To meet a diversified curriculum and the academic requirements of the Rivier University community, the libraries currently have more than 100,000 print volumes, subscribe to roughly 130 journal titles (of which about 75 are electronic), and patrons have online access through the library website to more than 280,000 electronic books and approximately 75 online journal research databases (which provide access to approximately 135,000 additional electronic journals). A reference librarian is available at the library for more than 90 hours each week. Students needing reference assistance may also contact a reference librarian from off-campus by telephone, text, e-mail or chat online. There are also a number of computers and printers for students to use in the library.

Interlibrary loan services are provided for students and faculty. Students can track, review, and retrieve their ILL requests through the RivILL portal, which is accessible through the Regina Library website. Books are delivered to the library for students to pick up.

Thanks to a major capital gift, Rivier expanded the Regina Library by approximately 12,000 square feet and renovated the existing library significantly. The highlights of the expansion and renovation include a new Reference Room, Electronic Classroom, Café with seating for 30 guests, a Quiet Study, six study rooms (three of which may be reserved) and large open spaces for group collaborative work. Wireless access to the University network is available throughout the building.

​Resurrection Chapel

Founded by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus in 1933, Rivier University is a private four-year, Catholic institution that welcomes students from all backgrounds. Since Rivier’s beginning, the chapel has served as a place of worship and prayer for students, sisters, faculty and staff alike. It was renovated twice; for the first time in 1963, and again in 2014.

​Rivier Village

Rivier Village offers four-person (4) apartments for upperclassmen. The first two of seven buildings opened in the spring of 2024. Each apartment has two bathrooms, a full kitchen, a living area, and an in-unit washer and dryer. In each building, seven (7) apartments offer four single bedrooms, while two (2) apartments offer two (2) double bedrooms. The main entrances open to a common room with soft seating and a fireplace, while the second floors have two hallway-end study nooks. The Village offers independent living in a meal-plan-optional residential community. Rivier Village houses 72 students and is staffed with a hall director and two resident assistants.

Science and Innovation Center

Through the Vision 2020 commitment to innovation in the sciences, the University broke ground on the construction of a Science and Innovation Center in April 2019. The 36,000 square-foot facility opened in Fall 2020 and provides state-of-the-art resources for microbiology, biotechnology, anatomy and physiology, genetics, organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and environmental science.

The Center features:

• Learning spaces that foster innovation and discovery,
• Laboratories and equipment designed to solve real-world problems,
• Technology that brings the world of science into the classroom,
• Collaborative spaces to foster faculty and student research.

Our students put theory into practice through hands-on assignments and research projects. Students have tested and cleaned up local ponds, evaluated the antimicrobial of homeopathic remedies; and conducted research in the biology of reproduction, cancer, ecology, and immunology. Together with their faculty, our students conduct sophisticated laboratory diagnostic procedures in courses such as microbiology and immunology, and test their knowledge and develop skills through real-world assignments and research projects.

Sylvia Trottier Hall: Nursing and Business Divisions

Some of the best equipped nursing, biology, and chemistry laboratories in the region are located in Sylvia Trottier Hall and the Science Innovation Center.

A $1 million donation to create the Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center serves as the catalyst for the next phase of technology and learning. Project Excel, focusing on nursing simulation, and Project Elevate with its focus on business and security programs, will ensure Rivier students will be workplace ready through the use of technology and experiential learning.

A $1.3 million congressionally directed funding project enabled us to create a state of the art simulation lab that reflects management of the critical care patient.

The 30,000 square-foot renovation incorporates many elements of a professional environment that students will meet in their future work spaces. Investment in the facility’s infrastructure, aesthetics, and technology will foster next-level learning for our nursing, business, and security studies students.

Sylvia Trottier Hall houses a newly renovated state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation and Clinical Education Center with completely renovated teaching labs for nursing fundamentals, clinical assessment, community nursing and telehealth simulation. The Center is housed on the second level of Sylvia Trottier Hall and includes six simulation labs and assessment areas, two classrooms, a lecture hall, a suite of nursing administrative and faculty offices, and several areas for faculty-student interaction.

The new entrance has been designed as a place of welcome and interdisciplinary collaboration. Simulation labs will mirror the settings in which nurses most often provide care: medical/surgical and pediatric/neonatal hospital rooms, an obstetrics room, examination rooms, and telehealth offices. Designated labs will accommodate undergraduate nursing, public health, and advanced nurse practitioner training.

Project Elevate enhances the delivery of business programs in management, finance, marketing, sport management, cybersecurity management, and homeland security. The creation of the cybersecurity lab with advanced technology and the collaborative spaces for project-based learning provide students with distinct advantages in their job searches and the ability to advance their careers.

An open, collaborative environment is an important component of the project. A modern, spacious conference room welcomes students, faculty, alumni, and visitors at the entrance to the Division of Business and Security Studies office suite. The Enterprise Zone offers plenty of “huddle space” and fosters exciting opportunities for interaction and innovation.

Rivier’s Office of Information Technology shares the lower level of Sylvia Trottier Hall. New offices, collaboration and work spaces, mechanical, electrical, and network rooms were created for IT support personnel and technical services. Students will benefit from an IT Support Center offering an exceptional in-person tech support experience.