Newberry College Continues Upgrade of Campus Facilities for Students

NEWBERRY, S.C., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Newberry College is continuing a series of campus-wide initiatives to further enhance the academic, social and cultural experience for students, faculty and staff members. Over the past several months, Newberry has been working with West Electrical Contractors of Newberry, Inc. on a variety of capital improvement projects, while continuing construction and renovation on select buildings.

• Earlier this semester, Newberry celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new fitness center, now giving students access to updated cardio-vascular and strength-building equipment in a renovated facility. As part of the College's Campus Wellness Initiative, the center gives the entire Newberry College community a place to exercise and maintain good health. Also newly opened is an athletic training and sports medicine center for student-athletes.
• A new Student Welcome Center will include space for a new admissions and financial aid office, and will serve as the gateway for prospective students looking to learn more about Newberry College. With new signage and dedicated parking, prospective students can now easily navigate the offices for student recruitment. These departments were previously housed in Holland Hall.
• The Alumni Music Center is anticipating a renovation of its front lobby and recital hall as the beginning of an initiative to improve the resources for Newberry's Music Department. The Center houses a 150-seat recital hall, practice rooms, a band room, offices, and classrooms.
• A new residential living space for students will open with the renovation of Oakland Mill. Built in 1912, this historic building, the last mill standing in Newberry County, was leased in 2009 by Newberry College to house its first group of students for the fall 2011 semester.

Other overall improvements have taken place on campus as well, including landscaping projects and various interior renovations, such as the planned renovation of Summerland Reception room in Smeltzer Hall, the oldest building on campus.

"We are excited to be able to bring new attention to the facilities and amenities that are such an important part of the student experience at Newberry College," Newberry College President Dr. V. Scott Koerwer said. "These capital improvement projects, and particularly Oakland Mill, are a great example of how we envision our campus as being an integral part of the living and learning community that we share with the City of Newberry."

About Newberry College

A private, residential, co-educational, college with a diverse student population, Newberry College offers baccalaureate degrees in 24 majors, 31 minors, and 27 areas of concentration. Founded in 1856 by the Lutheran Church, the college is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music. The college has a radio and television station, and offers 15 NCAA Division II sports. In the recent 2011 ranking of the Best Colleges in U.S. News & World Report, Newberry College placed in the top tier of regional colleges in the South. For more information, visit www.newberry.edu.

SOURCE Newberry College