At a glance
NYS Sen. Catharine M. Young, (R-Olean) visited the
Alfred State College campus recently to announce $33.5 million in funding for a
new student center on the campus. Sen. Young, long a friend of the
college, successfully worked to get the funding put back into the state
appropriations budget after it had been removed.
NYS Sen. Catharine M. Young,
(R-Olean) visited the Alfred State College campus recently to announce $33.5
million in funding for a new student center on the campus. Sen. Young,
long a friend of the college, successfully worked to get the funding put back
into the state appropriations budget after it had been removed. The
Alfred State Student Center will be the physical representation of the
realization of Alfred State's vision of being nationally recognized as the
college of choice for students seeking a technology-focused education
(associate and baccalaureate level) and the preferred college for employers
seeking graduates prepared to "hit the ground running."
"Alfred State College does a great job educating students," said Young.
"But today's students expect a certain quality of life at college, and this new
student center will help Alfred State meet those expectations. I'm
pleased to know that the plans for the student center include encouraging
leadership and civic responsibility so that students will not only be
successful in their careers, but also in their lives."
Moving from a
two-year college culture to a four-year college culture entails more than
simply adding academic offerings, faculty, and staff. Interpersonal,
social, and leadership skills need to be developed through personal interaction
with many different people. These interactions provide the best
instruction when the setting is a safe, comfortable gathering place. A
student center will provide this gathering place that will naturally draw
students and faculty together outside the classroom. The Student Center
will complete a student's total college experience -- academic programs to
expand knowledge, facilities to support quality educational experiences and
sports activities, and the Student Center to grow the spirit.
Phase one of the
project, the $5.5 million student area, has connected Central Dining Hall with
the Allied Health Building and is open for students to gather all day and for
events after the food service area closes. The new construction will
connect the current Central Dining Hall with the Agriculture Science Building.
Alfred State
College President Dr. John M. Anderson noted, "We're excited about the dramatic way our new facility will
transform our campus culture into one that will emphasize student involvement
and student leadership. The process we'll use for the design of the
facility will be very inclusive, using the expertise of our faculty, staff, and
students ... and we can't wait to get going!"
Echoing Anderson's sentiments, Young commented, "This is just the beginning of
many wonderful things for Alfred State College."