St. Joseph’s University Student Center:
ON TRACK FOR FALL 2023 COMPLETION
ome next fall, Long Island Campus students will have a new central hub for learning and student life activities.
The campus’ new Student Center featuring indoor and outdoor space to accommodate more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate learners, as well as areas for faculty, staff, friends and partners within the community to enjoy is expected to be ready for full use in time for the start of the fall 2023 semester.
A combined financial strategy including a bond issue, institutional resources and the proceeds from a $3 million capital and endowment campaign will help fund the Student Center.
Further offsetting costs, the University received a $120,000 grant from the George Alden Trust that will go toward sponsoring computing equipment and the smart classroom equipment within the classrooms inside the building.
This technology will also enable faculty to deliver course material via lecture or collaborative learning, ensuring students have access to the most appropriate academic environment.“That will allow classes in that building to connect live and sync to classrooms on the Brooklyn Campus,” St. Joseph’s Executive Director of Development Flavio Bollag said. “So students on both campuses can have a shared learning experience.”
Ridgewood Savings Bank, a long-standing partner of St. Joseph’s, committed $100,000 to provide the equipment and construction of a dedicated computer lab that will allow students access to a space replete with computers and printers.
Mr. Bollag said the third generous gift came from Peter Meyer, a 1987 St. Joseph’s graduate and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Meyer works in banking and finance, and he and his wife have committed a $100,000 donation to the new center’s faculty office, Mr. Bollag said.
The main purpose of the building is to provide an expanded and enhanced home for students and student life on campus. It will have large dining facilities, offices and meeting rooms for student life, student government and clubs.
“This is designed to be a new space that will change the feeling and the dynamic that students have on campus,” Mr. Bollag said.
The Student Center will also have an art gallery, an esports space and student game lounge, a chapel to be named for the Sisters of St. Joseph, and a veterans center.
The plan has been for the building to be completely enclosed before the winter so that construction crews can continue working inside the building during the cold months.