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Chestnut Hill College Receives Grant from Connelly Foundation

Chestnut Hill College Receives Grant from Connelly Foundation

Rendering of new classroom design showing students in class

October 17, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: 

Cristina Diaz 
Media and Community Relations Manager
215.753.3664

Chestnut Hill College Receives Grant from Connelly Foundation

 

Philadelphia, Pa. – Chestnut Hill College is pleased to announce it has received a $250,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation.  These funds will support the capital improvement project of renovating classrooms in Clement Hall on the College’s main campus.

A major goal of the capital campaign is to make significant improvements to the College’s aging and inefficient facilities in a manner that will continue to enhance learning and our student’s academic experience. Significantly improving the efficiency, usability and appearance of Clement Hall will create an environment conducive to learning and increase student success across the College, as virtually every student from all 36 undergraduate majors and four graduate programs utilize Clement Hall during their academic careers.

Josephine Mandeville, president of the Connelly Foundation, stated, “So many Catholic colleges are struggling to attract more students.  However, Chestnut Hill’s overall master plan is quite exciting and will benefit the sustainability of the College.”

These capital investments are direct factors in sustaining and growing enrollment while furthering the College’s mission of educating young women and men in an inclusive Catholic environment.

“I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the Connelly Foundation and their continued support of Chestnut Hill College,” said College President Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Ph.D. “The renovation of the classrooms in Clement Hall will vastly improve the educational experience of our students and the academic environment while providing greater access to the latest state-of-the-art educational technology.”

Clement Hall, a 26,552-square-foot space for learning, was modern and efficient in the late 1920s when it was constructed and has served students and faculty well over the past nine decades. However, space requirements and the use of technology in teaching have changed and the need to renovate Clement Hall has become critical.

Due to the original craftsmanship in Clement Hall, the building has good “architectural bones” allowing for the updating of the space to meet the modern learning experience. Thus, the footprint of the building will not change; only the layout and teaching/learning spaces will be redesigned and re-equipped to meet 21st century educational expectations of students and their parents.

The Clement Hall renovation project offers a variety of benefits for all students that will enhance the Chestnut Hill College educational experience that includes:

  • Enhanced technology will support various teaching and learning styles. Engaging learning environments foster group projects and team-study groups.
  • Redesigned classrooms will enhance faculty/student interaction and foster positive learning experiences. These interactions are crucial for adjunct instructors and adult students who spend limited time on campus.
  • An updated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system that will improve the classroom environment by providing much-needed comfort to students who often attend evening classes after working all day. A comfortable environment is inviting and helps students stay focused and on target.
  • In addition to enriching academic growth for students, classrooms are also used for initiatives with community partners. For example, in the College hosted a series of civic engagement workshops to engage and empower female veterans and military families.

 

About Chestnut Hill College

Celebrating more than 90 years of tradition and risk, Chestnut Hill College is a four-year coed Catholic college in the Ignatian tradition that offers a traditional liberal arts undergraduate program as well as accelerated undergraduate degrees, master’s and doctoral programs. The College has been rated by US News & World Report as among the best master’s universities in the North, as among the best Northeastern colleges by The Princeton Review, and has been classified as selective by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since 1924, the College has offered a rigorous curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The goal of Chestnut Hill College has been to prepare students for life’s challenges by helping them to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and socially.

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For more information about this press release or other Chestnut Hill College news, contact the News and Community Relations office.