ESU to Celebrate the Opening of its New Science and Technology Center with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Posted by: admin on September 18, 2008, No Comments

The new East Stroudsburg University Science and Technology Center will officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, September 26 at 10 a.m. Construction of the Center was completed on schedule in late July in time for the start of fall semester classes on August 25.

The ribbon cutting will appropriately mark the historic opening of the university’s newest and largest academic building. The ceremony will include university officials, trustees, alumni, students, and, invited state and local dignitaries. The event is open to the general public and will be followed by tours of the facility.

ESU’s Acting Assistant Vice President for University Advancement, Mr. John Ross, will preside over the ribbon cutting ceremony, which will feature a welcome by University President, Dr. Robert J. Dillman. Opening remarks by President Dillman will be followed by greetings from Dr. John Cavanaugh, the new chancellor for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; Dr. Darell Covington, chair of ESU’s Council of Trustees and Mr. Joseph Heverin ’63, chair of the ESU Foundation Board of Directors. Other speakers will deliver remarks on behalf of donors, the corporate and community perspectives, faculty, students and local, regional and state government.
A special highlight of the ceremony will be the unveiling of the building’s name.

Construction of the $41 million new Science and Technology Center began in April, 2006, following a groundbreaking attended by former commonwealth Governor Mark S. Schweiker, former PASSHE Chancellor, Judith Hample, University President, Robert J. Dillman, ESU Trustees, students, faculty, alumni, and other state and local dignitaries. The building was completed on schedule in July, 2008.

The new Center houses five academic departments – biology, chemistry, computer science and security, mathematics, and physics. The 124,000 square foot building includes: 17 teaching laboratories; 9 research laboratories; 5,000 square feet of other laboratory space; 9 classrooms; planetarium; a multi-use 200-seat auditorium; a rooftop observatory; a large reception area; and faculty offices. Plans are also in motion to include a museum of natural history in the near future.

It is important to note that the new building will benefit virtually every ESU student – not just those in the science-related programs. General education courses in math and the sciences are being offered in the new classrooms and labs, and science and math education majors have access to dedicated classrooms designed to accommodate both traditional and cutting edge new trends associated with the teaching of these subjects. Additionally, ESU students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the local communities are now welcome to enjoy the Science and Technology Center’s new planetarium and observatory and to attend events and lectures in the stunning 200-seat auditorium.

The completed new building is already beginning to prove adept at what it was designed to do, which is to provide the state-of-the art technological and scientific teaching resources that will empower students to take ideas from concept to reality, and which will ultimately prepare students for the new professions of the 21st century. The facility is the centerpiece of ESU’s Comprehensive Campaign, which is also focused on raising funds for scholarships and other university priorities.

East Stroudsburg University was founded in 1893. It is one of 14 university members of the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The university offers 68 undergraduate and 21 graduate degree programs and has an enrollment of 7,200 students with over 300 faculty members. For more information, visit www.esu.edu, or call the office of admission today at 877-230-5547 to schedule a guided tour of campus.