University News | August 12, 2026
A special new space is taking shape on the second floor of Godwin Hall, where the Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) Alumni Room in the John A. Trinder Center for Advancement will preserve and celebrate the people, milestones and memories that have defined the College and its alumni community.
Furniture and memorabilia were recently moved from SCOHS's Chesapeake facility into the room, bringing the space one step closer to becoming a permanent home for pieces of the college’s history. Final touches are planned in the coming weeks. More than a room, the SCOHS Alumni Room will serve as a bridge between the legacy of SCOHS and its future as part of Batten University, providing alumni, students, faculty, staff and visitors an opportunity to reflect on the people and experiences that built a tradition of educating healthcare professionals and serving the Coastal Virginia community.
The SCOHS Alumni Room is just one part of a broader effort to preserve and bring together the histories that now comprise Batten University. In Godwin Hall, SCOHS memorabilia and photographs will join artifacts from Virginia Wesleyan’s history, creating a more complete record of the people, traditions and institutions that have shaped the University we are today.
“I am especially proud to welcome more than 9,500 alumni of Sentara College of Health Sciences into the Marlin family,” said Batten University President Dr. Scott D. Miller. “Your accomplishments and commitment to caring for others have enriched our region for generations. Together, we will honor that heritage while creating new opportunities for the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.”
Founded in 1892 as Norfolk’s first nursing school, Sentara College of Health Sciences has played an important role in preparing healthcare professionals for Coastal Virginia and beyond. What began as a hospital-based nursing school grew into a comprehensive health sciences college offering undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees, associate degrees, certificates and continuing education programs.
On July 1, 2026, following approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Sentara College of Health Sciences officially became an operating division of Batten University. The college will continue to operate independently until the U.S. Department of Education grants final authorization for financial aid integration, but its history and traditions are already becoming an enduring part of the Batten story.