Photo by Justin Clay | The Signal
Georgia State is steadily moving towards campus improvements for 2016, with new buildings, centers and programs currently being created. University President Mark Becker announced during his State of the University address that the university is one of the leading schools in the country when it comes to innovation. And the faculty and staff are continuously trying to keep that reputation alive.
- Student Financial Counseling Center
In a Town Hall meeting on Nov. 4, Becker announced that Georgia State will be creating a Student Financial Counseling Center to help students navigate through financial turmoil. This program will be funded by the $2 million grant which the SunTrust Foundation awarded to our university, according to Associate Vice President for Public Relations Andrea Jones.
“SunTrust will provide financial mentors and the center staff will use the system to contact students and develop a series of outreach programs,” she said.
Jones said financial problems is the main cause of why students drop out.
“The center will also serve as a contact point for financial counseling with low-income and hard-to-reach families that rarely have access to financial guidance from credible institutions.” she said.
- New Creative Media Industries Institute
Georgia State has taken on the construction of the new Creative Media Industries Institute. With a fund of $22.8 million from the Woodruff endowment, the new building will be built next to Woodruff Park, according a Georgia State news release.
The Art Institute will welcome research and partnerships with Georgia’s Arts Industries to create more opportunities for students of the arts. According to the president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Research Allowance, C. Michael Cassidy, it will help financially with the Institute’s needed equipment.
- Science Park II
Science Park II, also known as Petite II, is in its late stages of construction. The new development will be an extension of Georgia State’s already existing science building and will consist of six floors, four of which will be dedicated to research.
Aimee Graciela Rivera Solis, a Georgia State chemistry major, said she is ecstatic about the news.
“I feel like it will provide a lot more opportunities for the undergraduates as well, since there will be many more facilities,” she said.
The construction of the Science Park II is expected to finish in January of 2016.
Solis also said she feels relieved that there will be more space opening up for science students to get a hands-on experience in research.
- New Residence Hall
Another advancement for the university is the residence hall scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. The building is located near the University Commons and will house 1,052 residents, according to The Signal.
Francesca Jean-Baptise, a Georgia State sophomore said, she thinks the additional dorm is great for the university.
“More dorms means there are more students coming in. This new building is ideal for freshmen in our expanding student body,” she said.
- Burning Bright campaign climbing towards goal
Finally, in 2016 Georgia State plans to climb to their goal of $300 million for their Burning Bright campaign.
The campaign was created to raise money for student, faculty and university programs and upgrades, setting a specific money goal which it aims to meet within four years.
Currently, Georgia State has raised 195 million.
