Giving students greater access & support services
Berkshire Community College (BCC) has been awarded $5.5 million for a major project that will transform the first floor of the Field Administration building into a One Stop Student Success Center.
Governor Charlie Baker announced this award on July 10th at Westfield State University. Governor Baker launched a Capital Investment Plan for public higher education and encouraged the submission of proposals that would benefit the Massachusetts economy and support student success and completion.
The Governor’s Capital Investment Plan includes $190 million in FY19 for public higher education. BCC was selected as one of six projects for higher education institutions across the Commonwealth.
Field Administration Center
(Above: The Field Administration Center is slated for $5.5 million in renovations to its first floor to create a One Stop Student Success Center)
The One Stop Student Success Center concept was conceived in 2015. It will transform the student experience by making the entire admissions and enrollment process easier. The project will renovate the first floor of the Field Administration building, which currently houses Enrollment Management, Advising, Career and Transfer services, Financial Aid and Student Accounts, and Admission and the college registrar.
“The vision for this project was to create a comfortable and inviting central location where students and community partners have all of their college service needs met efficiently in one place,” Ellen Kennedy, President of BCC, said. “Receiving the funding for this project is an exciting opportunity for both the College and the Berkshires. We will continue to expand our efforts to reimagine not only our buildings and grounds, but also, most importantly, how we can best serve our students so they thrive in the local and statewide economy”
BCC is currently completing $34 million in campus projects for the renovation of Hawthorne and Melville Halls, including a Connector with upper and lower courtyards, paving of the parking lots and access roads, and installing a community turf field for football, soccer and lacrosse. Collectively, these projects have resulted in a campus transformation.
“When we originally designed the One Stop Student Success Center, we were focusing on student engagement, retention and graduation rates,” Adam Klepetar, Vice President of Enrollment Management, said. “The One Stop will do this by making the first floor of Field a student-facing space – a welcoming environment with all key onboarding offices located in one central place, while also creating opportunities for office efficiencies and providing collaborative workspaces for community-based partnerships.”
“We are particularly excited about making the campus even more accessible, “John Law, BCC’s Chief Financial Officer said. “In a recent study, it was noted that navigating the first floor of Field can be difficult for individuals with mobility challenges. The One Stop project will address this issue and complement other recent improvements.”
BCC has been working with Dietz & Company Architects to develop and refine the facilities plan for this project.