Castleton University stands to receive $1 million from the state to help renovate its science center into a state-of-the-art facility for science, technology, engineering and math. The college hopes to raise a total of $3.6 million to help prepare students for high-skill, high-paying jobs in the STEM fields.
The capital construction bill, H.878, approved in the waning days of the legislative session, appropriates $500,000 to upgrade the engineering and technology laboratories at Castleton’s Jeffords Science Center. It is up to the university to match that money before the state provides another $500,000.
It is the first earmark Castleton has secured in more than a decade, according to Jeff Weld, director of communications and marketing for the university. “We asked for it for this specific project,” he said.
Castleton’s plea to lawmakers was well-timed, according to Sen. Peg Flory, R-Rutland, chair of the Senate Institutions Committee. She said that last year Lt. Gov. Phil Scott asked the legislators to consider ways to promote job opportunities as they worked on their bills in committee. During that session, Vermont Technical College approached lawmakers about some lab upgrades.
“There appeared to be a market in Vermont if the kids were educated with the current tools … so we put the money into it,” Flory said. “This year, Castleton did the same thing, and there appears to be a job market, but the kids need to have upgraded lab equipment in order to be ready to take those jobs. So we thought it was a wise investment for jobs.”
Castleton University President Dave Wolk said the renovations would help the school offer students better opportunities. “In order for students to be competitive in the job market or in graduate school, they need research experience as undergraduates to develop many laboratory and critical thinking skills necessary for success,” he said.
The university says it has seen an increase in the number of students interested in STEM programs in the last decade. “We have grown our student population in those majors, and we have grown our faculty from six to a dozen in the natural science department,” Weld said. The faculty offer majors in biology, chemistry, ecological studies, environmental science, exercise science, geology and health.
The major renovation project will enhance lab space to address growth in the sciences program. “We have run out of room in our anatomy and physiology labs,” Weld said. “We recently added a chemistry major, and we have added students to all of our science majors. … This is the next stage to take the Jeffords Center to the level it needs to be.”
In 2008 Castleton expanded the center, adding a greenhouse, office space, a lecture hall and more classroom space at a cost of about $3 million. The college has not set dates for construction for the current plans.
“It was a big thing for them to get that money to get some matching help,” said Sen. Dick Mazza, D-Grand Isle, whom Weld credited along with Flory and Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, for getting the appropriation. “I hope it makes a big difference in the future. We value our state colleges, and anything we can do to help them get more students and upgrade their facilities and help keep our students in Vermont” is good.
The same legislation provided the final installment of $500,000 to VTC to finish the engineering lab project lawmakers supported last year. Lyndon State College was provided $150,000 for a wind energy sound monitoring study and to install solar panels. The college needs to raise $50,000 in matching funds.
The Vermont State Colleges system also will divide a $1.4 million appropriation for construction, renovations and maintenance.
“We have both the governor and the lieutenant governor out there saying that there are jobs in Vermont and we need people ready to take the jobs,” said Flory. “STEM is a large part of this.”
