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Simulation Center for Clinical Excellence

The Simulation Center for Clinical Excellence is located on campus at Allen College in Waterloo, IA. The center offers experiential learning for nursing and health sciences students through high-fidelity scenarios, virtual reality training, trained medical patients, task training and other specialized simulation equipment.

  • Allen College's Mission:
    Allen College excels at providing healthcare education.
  • Simulation Center Vision:
    The Allen College Simulation Center for Clinical Excellence will be a leading and innovative educational space for students to learn, practice and enhance their healthcare knowledge and delivery using experiential and hands on learning.
  • Best Practice Standards:
    The Allen College simulation program utilizes the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) standards of best practice for all simulation sessions. These standards are inclusive of simulation design, facilitation, outcomes and objectives, debriefing, evaluation, professional integrity, interprofessional education and operations.
Simulation Team

For questions about the Simulation Center or available learning opportunities, please contact:  
Dr. Ashley Ollendieck
 
Simulation Center Coordinator
Phone: (319) 226‑2041

Photo of Old Sim Lab
Simulation Expansion Updates

Allen Foundation has received major gifts from:

    • Van G. Miller Family Charitable Foundation ($1 million)
    • Pauline R. Barrett Charitable Foundation ($500,000)
    • Jim & Judy Fogdall ($500,000)
    • Mike McBride ($300,000)
    • R.J. McElroy Trust ($250,000)
    • Henry B. Allen Family Foundation ($250,000)
    • Gail & David Nielsen ($100,000)

Simulation Update
The McElroy Hall simulation expansion began in November 2025, and through April 2026 remains on schedule. The space is projected to be completed in August 2026. Below are photos of the progress along with the architectural renderings of the space.  

Student Study Area View 1Student Study Area View 2

Nurses Station