$500,000 grant to build college science center ; Bristol-Myers Squibb teams with Montclair State
Posted on: Thursday, 4 December 2003, 06:00 CST
TRENTON - Montclair State University will build a new science and math teaching center with a $500,000 grant from the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb, the two announced Wednesday.
MSU President Susan A. Cole said she hopes that the Bristol- Myers Squibb Center for Science Teaching and Learning, at the university's campus in Upper Montclair, will open in fall 2004. Construction is set to begin in the summer.
Robert S. Prezant, dean of MSU College of Science and Mathematics, said the university would renovate the basement of Blanton Hall, which now houses the Professional Resources in Science and Math (PRISM) program. PRISM, which is a teacher-training program, will move into the new building. The renovated space will feature labs for students and teachers, a conference area, a social area, and four offices, all behind a glass exterior, Prezant said.
Cole said the new building would enable MSU to educate "thousands" of students, including undergraduates with aspirations of teaching science or math as well as graduate students.
The five-year capital grant was announced at a news conference at the state Board of Education building in Trenton.
John McGoldrick, executive vice president of Bristol-Myers Squibb, said his company feels that "science education is especially critical in New Jersey."
"The state has moved from traditional industry to a highly technology-based industry with fields like electronics, pharmacy, and computer and information technology," McGoldrick said.
He said the MSU grant is the second of its kind in the state. The other grant went to Rider University in Lawrenceville, which opened its Bristol-Myers Squibb Center for Science Teaching and Learning in April 2002. The building is home to the university's Science Education and Literacy Center, which like PRISM focuses on teaching teachers.
S. Anders Hedberg, director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb foundation, said giving grants to build educational facilities in New Jersey benefits his company in the short and long term. In the short term, Hedberg hopes graduates will get jobs teaching in New Jersey schools, improve school districts and communities, and make New Jersey a more attractive place to recruit future Bristol employees. In the long term, Hedberg said, the company hopes to "broaden the talent pool" from which his company recruits. He added that the company employs "tens of thousands" of New Jersey residents.
According to the Bristol Web site, the corporation has donated $369 million in products and $49 million in grants for health and education programs worldwide.
William L. Librera, the state's commissioner of education, praised the partnership between the pharmaceutical company and the universities as a "powerful picture of what we can do when we think about doing things together."
He said he hopes to see more partnerships like it.
* * *
E-mail: schweber@northjersey.com
* * *
Related Articles
- Western Governors University Nursing Education Programs Receive CCNE Accreditation
- The Society of Forensic Toxicologists Comments on the National Academy of Sciences' Report on 'Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States'
- NORESCO Selected By Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to Improve Energy Efficiency at Dixon University Center
- Strayer University Receives Early Reaffirmation of Accreditation From the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- New State Funding Plan Disappoints Educators: Many Say Additional Money Not Enough to Meet
- Xechem Closes On $4.2 Million Lawsuit Settlement With Bristol-Meyers Squibb
- Federal Monitor May Oversee State's Medical University
- Xechem Settles Antitrust Lawsuit Against Bristol-Meyers Squibb for $4.2 Million
- Roundup: Uganda Makes Achievements in Universal Primary Education
- Chinese State Councillor Stresses Vocational Education
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds