Campus Shines for Fall Opening

President Townsley welcomes back residence life staff.	Academy get a new coat of paint.

Under the watchful supervision of Director of Building & Grounds Bob Lavigne, the Nichols College campus has never looked better.

Many of the halls have been refreshed: Academy, Conant and Olsen are newly painted; metal back stairs have been installed for Conrad; masonry enhancements have been made to Davis and Alumni. Lawns have been reseeded, extra pathways have been laid, and picnic tables and benches have been placed in strategic locations.

Nichols' effort goes beyond enhancing its curb appeal. The campus community has rededicated itself to the "greener good." Geothermal heating and air conditioning has been implemented in both Olsen Hall and the new Copper Beech Apartments. Single-stream recycling has been implemented in every residence hall, allowing students to put cans, glass, mixed paper, plastic containers and cardboard into the same recycling bin.

In addition, Vice President Kevin Brassard and Library Director Jim Douglas have been a driving force behind installing group study rooms with large View Sonic monitors and IBM ThinkPads. "We wanted to set up a more collaborative environment for group work and case studies, an important focus of our business curriculum," says Douglas. Evening student Sheri Beicke, a resident of Palmer, Mass., enjoys using the new rooms for her online music class. "The rooms are awesome," says Beicke. "I couldn't believe my good luck at having access to this technology."

Research shows that students living in residence halls typically have higher GPAs and are more involved in leadership opportunities on campus. So, there's great anticipation surrounding the fall opening of Copper Beech I Apartments for upper classmen.

"Copper Beech and the grounds which surround it connect the upper campus with Shamie and Kuppenheimer Halls, and it has created a new heart for our campus living and learning environment," says Patricia Allen, director of Residence Life & Judicial Affairs. "It's an exciting time to be on campus. Students can now take advantage of a residential experience which offers more independence and facilitates that first leap into a career."

Because prospective students are asking for community living space with better furnishings, a sense of warmth, and greater privacy, the attractiveness of Nichols campus is considered vital to the success of the College's recruiting program. In 1998, President Debra M. Townsley and Vice President of Administration Susan K. Teller developed a short and long-term strategy to revamp the Dudley campus neglected for more than 10 years.

The "Hill" has never shined so brightly, and to thank its good neighbors for their patience during the restoration and construction, Nichols College held its 31th Annual Dudley Appreciation Dinner for Town employees on Tuesday, August 26th.