Coppin State University unveils $45.8M College of Business Building
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Posted By: S. Moore on October 31, 2023 The new College of Business at Coppin State University has four stories of classrooms, lecture space, student study areas, data labs and a constant stock market ticker tape with a colorful neon glow. The new $45.8 million academic center on the campus of the historically Black university in West Baltimore is set to officially open on Thursday after nearly 10 years of planning. The modern, bright College of Business has an open floor plan on the main level and built-in student and community gathering space designed by a team from Quinn Evans and Boston's Goody Clancy. It sits near the gateway to campus on West North Avenue and will house Coppin's 306 undergraduate business students focused on majors that include marketing, sports management and accounting. Sadie Gregory, dean of the college, said the building will replace a small, constrained space the college outgrew years ago as it was jammed onto a single floor of another academic building nearby. "We've always had good academic programs but have not had the facilities to support them in a meaningful way," Gregory said, leading a tour. "This new building is unbelievable." The 62,000-square-foot building broke ground in July 2020 and was funded by the state as part of the capital budget for the University System of Maryland. The move into the new digs started this summer, and will allow the college to ultimately expand its enrollment and faculty, Gregory added. Five new faculty members will soon be hired, and join a full-time professional development official who helps students snag internships and job opportunities. She proudly pointed out new classrooms, conference space, a lecture hall and an outdoor courtyard that will allow for future social and academic gatherings. "We have an entertainment management degree program and now an entertainment management lab," she said. "We have an entrepreneur center where students will get some hands-on experience working with entrepreneurs." The new college will also allow high school and community college students to visit and plot an academic path at Coppin, she added. Coppin State President Anthony Jenkins in April said he planned to boost the university's acceptance rate in the coming year or so as a way to increase a years-long decline in enrollment figures. Coppin since the early 2010s has struggled with enrollment and retention with undergraduate enrollment dropping by 46% since 2010. Part of the plan to reverse the slide is to recruit potential students in their early teens. That is already in force at the College of Business where an Institute for Partners in Education has opened to build bridges between students at K-12 schools and community colleges across Maryland. The institute has worked with administrators and students at Harford and Carroll Community Colleges and other schools in the state to attract new students to Coppin, Gregory said. Another plus at the new college is the Charles Schwab Foundation Community Wealth Center that was funded by a gift from the national investment firm. The center is focused on closing the wealth gaps that exist in Baltimore communities through financial education that will include free income tax filing services. The new building is a symbol of hope at Coppin for Gregory, who has been an administrator at the university since 2004. "It's really an opportunity to take the college to another level," she said. SOURCE Baltimore Business Journal If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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