Ground Breaking

February 2001 updates
August 2000 updates

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by the Board of Trustees, Deans, and the Workers’ Union, the University's Executive Council, and Mr. John Herbst; Consul General of the United States.

Brother Neil Kieffe, Academic Vice President, gave the following remarks, which present the entire project in a nut-shell:

“When Br. Vincent Malham assumed the position of Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University in early 1997 he immediately held a series of meetings with members of the faculty of the university by departments.  In these discussions an almost universal recommendation was to address the need for adequate offices for the teachers, larger classrooms and additional laboratories for instructional purposes.  As a result, attention was immediately given to designing a new facility, which would provide the additional space needed.  One goal was to reduce the number faculty members occupying each office from an average of five to 2 full time and one part-time teacher in each room.  A second goal was to construct a number of classrooms capable of seating up to fifty students.  The small classrooms designed for the early days of the university are no longer adequate because of the increased enrolment.

A new building was proposed which would provide 18 new faculty offices, 15 classrooms, a computer laboratory with 50 workstations and a lecture hall capable of seating 120 persons.  Funding was sought and, fortunately, generous donors came forward.  Today, because of the generosity of these donors, and the additional funds, which Bethlehem University will contribute, we are able to break ground for the new building.

It is hard to estimate the value that the new facility will contribute to the academic process here.  To have offices where faculty can consult with students without disturbing four other teachers will be a tremendous step forward.  To have classrooms where the students will not sitting on top of each other will also be a great relief to students and teachers as well.  To increase the number of computers available to students by 50% and to add a second large lecture hall are all things we have been waiting for years.  The building will have a flexibility, which will enable us to make changes in the future if needed.  It is also designed to make use of modern technology to enhance the instructional process in the classrooms, the offices and especially the lecture hall.

I know I speak for the teachers and the students when I say that they appreciate from the bottom of their hearts the generosity of the donors who have made this day possible.  May I add my gratitude as well.  We now look forward to that day in the not-too-distant future when we will be cutting the ribbon to put this building into use.  Thank you for being with us this evening to watch the first step of a dream coming true.  We hope you will return for the dedication in about a year.”