Dakota Wesleyan University will celebrate the groundbreaking of its new School of Business Innovation and Leadership building with a special ceremony during Blue & White Days on Friday, Oct. 4 at noon.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on the southeast corner of campus adjacent to the Corrigan Health Sciences Center. A light lunch will be provided. Parking will be available in the lot north of the groundbreaking site. Attendees are welcome to park along S. Duff Street, as well.
The vision behind the new building focuses on the need to accommodate students, staff and faculty who are committed to innovative teaching and learning in both the business department – which is currently one of the largest majors on campus and still growing – as well as the other departments within the university’s College of Leadership and Public Service.
“To meet the challenges of our constantly changing digital economy, DWU is responding with a building that will equip students with the space they need for collaboration, entrepreneurial ideation and rural research. Rooted in our strong ethical foundation, students at DWU are encouraged to be creative, question assumptions and imagine new opportunities, and the School of Business Innovation and Leadership will allow them to do so,” said DWU President, Amy Novak.
The 30,000-square-foot, two-story building will have many notable features including: the Institute for Rural Development, the Kelly Center for Entrepreneurship, a large, multipurpose boardroom and community meeting space, entrepreneurship ideation labs, a media marketing commons and a tribute to women throughout Wesleyan’s history who have made a leadership impact in the world. Members of the community will have access to the meeting space which will serve as a great benefit for collaboration and research.
“We’re excited to see what our students will accomplish in our new space and I can’t wait to have all of our business faculty under one roof,” said DWU business department Chair, Christine Mauszycki.
Generous donations from nearly 60 community and alumni donors as well as the board of trustees, and the DWU partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture is playing a vital role in the funding of the new building.
“Our partnership with USDA has allowed us to move forward with this project earlier than anticipated. The USDA office of rural development has a strong commitment to economic development in rural areas, and the loan DWU received echoes our passion and commitment to our rural region,” said DWU Executive Vice President, Theresa Kriese.
The construction end date is scheduled for June 2021 and the building plans to be occupied and in full use for students, staff and faculty beginning fall semester 2021.