NC Cover Connection April 2008

La Roche is a college on the move.  Literally.  After careful analysis and review, plans are being implemented to consolidate all of the College’s operations and facilities on the East Campus – the larger of the two properties along both sides of Babcock Boulevard that are home to La Roche College’s offices and classrooms.  The College plans to vacate the entire West Campus by the end of the summer.  This represents a big change for the College and one that has been under study for several years.

The origins of combining the campuses date back to a campus master plan, completed in February 2002, which took a long-range look at the future development of the La Roche College campus.  That plan envisaged the West Campus as the site for potential expansion of the College’s physical facilities.  Shortly after assuming the presidency of the College in July 2004, Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., initiated a review of the 2002 plan. 

“A number of factors had changed since the plan was completed, and we needed to determine if the assumptions upon which it was based were still valid,” Sister Candace said.  “We also needed to see if the ensuing conclusions still represented the best way to utilize the College’s assets, especially its property, to achieve the greatest benefit for the College and the neighboring community.”

Updating the Master Plan

This reassessment looked at a variety of issues, including one that affects all colleges and universities in the region – demographic trends in elementary and secondary education.  And the study focused on broader trends in higher education, such as the movement toward developing physical facilities that meet both campus and community needs. 

“One outcome that emerged from the analysis of these various factors and trends was a readjustment of projected total enrollment growth for the College,” Sister Candace said.  “A more realistic projection put the future total enrollment closer to 2,000 rather than the 3,000 figure in the 2002 master plan.” 

Because of this adjusted enrollment figure, Sister Candace and her administrative team realized that the West Campus expansion that had once been planned would likely not be necessary.

Looking at Future Options

In April 2005, the College’s Board of Trustees authorized President Introcaso and her team to investigate the range of potential uses and disposition of the 37-acre West Campus.   Kathy Kozdemba, chair of the Board of Trustees, indicated that the Board looked to Sister Candace to make recommendations as to available alternatives. 

“We were looking for options that would enable the College to best meet the needs of its students, while at the same time offering benefits that would enhance the campus and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Ms. Kozdemba said.  The Board of Trustees concurred with the recommendation that the option that held the most potential for the College was to sell the West Campus and consolidate the La Roche family into one location on the East Campus. 

One major benefit of this course of action will be the creation of a more cohesive campus community.  “Babcock Boulevard has long been both a physical and a psychological barrier to complete campus integration, and our consolidation of all programs and activities on the East Campus is in the best interest of the entire campus community, especially the students,” Sister Candace said.

Additionally, research determined that the appropriate development of the West Campus could be a genuine asset to student recruitment and retention.  Discussions between college officials and representatives of both the Town of McCandless and potential purchasers centered around the development of a “town center” on the vacated West Campus property.  This would comprise a mix of light retail, residential and professional offices that would provide both entertainment and employment opportunities for students.  Such a “town center” has been built adjacent to John Carroll University in Cleveland and has proven to be a positive addition to that institution’s campus environment and to the neighboring community.

Interest from Two Parties

The College’s Board of Trustees chose Howard Hanna Realty to serve as adviser and sales agent for this project.  Two serious potential buyers have emerged.  One is the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, which in June 2007 purchased 10 acres of the property to be used for a new church for its growing congregation.  The church, currently located on Pittsburgh’s North Side, is in the process of developing architectural plans and raising funds for the new building, but construction of the facility may not begin for several years.

The second respondent is AdVenture, Inc., a development firm.  The College signed a sales agreement with AdVenture in March 2007 that indicates that firm’s intention to purchase the remaining 27-acre parcel to develop as part of the aforementioned “town center.”  The developer is seeking zoning changes prior to completing the sale. 

The College continues to work closely with the Town of McCandless officials throughout the process to help ensure that whatever development takes place is consistent with the desires of both the College and the Town. 

Master Plan for Facility Needs

Ms. Kozdemba emphasized that throughout the process the board and the administration were aware of the implications for facilities resulting from the sale of the property – particularly, the space needs that would result from moving all programs and offices onto one main campus.  To help ensure that all of the College’s facilities needs were addressed, the Board of Trustees contracted with DRS Architects to prepare a new Facilities Master Plan which includes both the long-term facilities needs of the College, as well as temporary space needs during the transition to the East Campus.

Moving Academic Programs

The first two program moves are complete:  The Department of Nursing’s classroom and learning laboratory were relocated early in the academic year to the East Campus, and the Department of Performing Arts moved to new dance studio space in the Kerr Fitness & Sports Center.  The programs that will move this summer are the Crime Scene Investigation laboratory for the Criminal Justice Program and the College’s most popular major:  Graphic & Communication Design.  Moving this last program also represented an opportunity to improve the space for the second most popular program, Interior Design. 

Physically linking these two programs in a way that highlights their importance to the College was a tremendous plus.  It also proved to be a hands-on learning opportunity for students in both programs, as they were asked to work in groups to develop plans for the departments’ new location.  Both graphic and interior design students created renderings and design elements that would create their new “home” on the main campus.  Once completed, the new location for the two programs will reflect the best thinking of the individuals most affected by the change – the students in the programs.  

Updating the Library

The renovation of the John J. Wright Library and Learning Center also has been incorporated into the College’s planning.  When it was opened in 1967, the Wright Library represented a state-of-the-art facility among college libraries.  But just as educational techniques and practices evolved through the years to incorporate new technology and to accommodate changing needs of students, so, too, has the role and function of the library. 

“College libraries today must respond to trends in higher education and students’ technology expectations,” Sister Candace said.  “Although it has served thousands of students well, the time has come for the Wright Library to receive an upgrade that will provide it with the physical and technological capacity to serve future generations of both traditional-age and adult learners from the region.”

The physical changes to the library building are in response to changing styles of teaching and learning, as well as changing methods of education delivery.  Undergirding all of these physical changes will be the technology and software needed to develop and deliver instruction through distance learning, in order to accommodate the adult learner – an area in which La Roche sees expansion opportunities beyond its current online offerings.  The improvements to Wright Library will benefit not only La Roche College students, but also the community at large – including area residents who use the library.

Clearly, change is in store for La Roche College, and it is change for the better, according to Sister Candace.

 “Our plans will enhance our ability to better serve the needs of the current and future generations of students and help ensure that we continue to live out our commitment to being the best college for the world.”

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