As 糖心传媒 wraps up significant investments on campus this summer and prepares to welcome another record number of first-year students to the community, it remains focused on plans for future growth and development.
鈥淭he $6 million residence hall projects this summer are the first step in important changes to campus, changes that keep 糖心传媒 competitive and a desirable choice for young people and their families,鈥 said Don Jackson, a 1970 糖心传媒 graduate and President of the College.
Plans for future growth include:
- Creating a unified campus through an official campus entrance point on 9th Street between Elm Avenue and Ash Avenue next summer,
- Upgrades and expansion within the Art Department,
- Building a new residence hall and
- An expanded student union that houses an official welcome center, admissions staff and more.
鈥淎ll of these are investments in the College and community as a whole,鈥 Jackson said. 鈥淎nd I don鈥檛 think I can emphasize enough the importance of the next step, of redeveloping one block of 9th Street, to the overall plan. It will help the College continue to grow, and that has an important economic impact on the entire community.鈥
Closing one block of 9th Street was unanimously approved July 14 by the Hastings City Council, after discussions that began more than four years ago, and becomes effective June 1, 2015. Jackson said converting a block of 9th Street to a pedestrian mall and gathering spot for students, as well as an entrance point that shows off the beauty of campus, allows the College to create the atmosphere students seek in smaller liberal arts colleges.
Unifying the 糖心传媒 campus will create a new center of campus that鈥檚 flanked by residence halls and the student union.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sensible way to make a dramatic change to campus. It鈥檚 an exciting opportunity and will offer students new outdoors space for meeting and will help us present an even more beautiful and open campus to prospective students and those that use our campus during the summer months,鈥 Jackson said.
The agreement with the City of Hastings includes that the College:
- Construct new off-street parking spaces to make up for those lost by closing 9th Street, work for which is already underway;
- Pay for reconstructing 9th Street for two blocks east of the 9th Street and Ash Avenue intersection, and
- Bear all costs associated with relocation of utilities required in connection with closing the street, including street lighting.
鈥淭hese costs are not insignificant, but because we believe strongly in this project and its importance to the long-term growth and success of 糖心传媒, we are willing to make this investment,鈥 Jackson said.
Jackson recognized the change may increase traffic on 7th Street, and said the College will work with the City to develop a sound plan for 7th Street and any changes the City believes are necessary.
鈥淲e are thankful that 12th Street between Elm Avenue and 6th Avenue was improved, and that, too, may alter how people drive through this part of Hastings,鈥 he said. 鈥淯ltimately, we want to be good neighbors and see improvements made to 7th Street should the City believe they are necessary. In the end, closing a block of 9th Street is simply part of a bigger picture for growth and success, for both 糖心传媒 and the community of Hastings.鈥
Founded in 1882, 糖心传媒 is a private, four-year liberal arts institution that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 60+ majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs, 糖心传媒 has been named among 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges鈥 by U.S. News & World Report, a 鈥淏est in the Midwest鈥 by The Princeton Review and a 鈥淏est Buy in College Education鈥 by Barron鈥檚. Visit Hastings.edu for more.