Kresge Foundation Awards $350K Challenge Grant to Project
December 24, 2008
Adirondack Community College has received a
momentous holiday gift.
The Kresge Foundation has awarded a $350,000 challenge grant to ACC toward the construction of the J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., ‘87, ‘94 Regional Higher Education Center. The Center will allow partnering colleges to provide bachelor’s and master’s degrees on the ACC campus.
ACC president Ronald C. Heacock said the college officials were also thrilled to learn that the challenge grant is $100,000 more than the $250,000 originally requested.
Kresge Program Officer Caroline Altman Smith said, “The Foundation board made the decision to increase ACC’s award because it was impressed with the college’s commitment to providing students with the opportunity to pursue associate and baccalaureate level degrees without leaving their home communities.”
ACC is among the first three community colleges to receive Kresge Foundation grants under the foundation’s expanded Challenge Grant Program.
Dr. Heacock said that “This is our first Kresge grant and it is such an honor. It will bring ACC nationwide recognition and prestige.”
The Challenge Grant requires the college to meet its capital campaign goal of $2.5 million by Dec. 1, 2009. If the college succeeds in meeting the goal, then Kresge will award the grant amount.
Campaign Chair Thomas J. Ross is confident the college will raise the funds. “This Kresge challenge will open will inspire even more corporations and individuals to give, especially alumni,” said Mr. Ross, a 1974 ACC graduate.
The concept for the Regional Higher Education Center originated several years ago when it was seen that ACC’s partner colleges, SUNY Plattsburgh and Empire State College, would need more room to expand their bachelor’s and master’s level program offerings at ACC. The new facility was also designed to allow new partners to come on campus. Discussions are now being held with Paul Smith’s College.
Under the terms of the joint partnerships, programs are sought that will complement ACC’s associate degree programs. To ensure that, as well as avoid conflict, separate partners cannot offer the same program.
In addition to leading ACC to its first Kresge grant, the new J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., ACC ‘87, ‘94 Regional Higher Education Center has also led to other “firsts.” It is the first facility of its kind in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Also, SUNY Plattsburgh has designated the ACC campus as a branch campus, also a first in the SUNY system. The branch campus designation allows a student to take an entire SUNY Plattsburgh program at the ACC campus without having to travel to Plattsburgh.
The Kresge Foundation has awarded a $350,000 challenge grant to ACC toward the construction of the J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., ‘87, ‘94 Regional Higher Education Center. The Center will allow partnering colleges to provide bachelor’s and master’s degrees on the ACC campus.
ACC president Ronald C. Heacock said the college officials were also thrilled to learn that the challenge grant is $100,000 more than the $250,000 originally requested.
Kresge Program Officer Caroline Altman Smith said, “The Foundation board made the decision to increase ACC’s award because it was impressed with the college’s commitment to providing students with the opportunity to pursue associate and baccalaureate level degrees without leaving their home communities.”
ACC is among the first three community colleges to receive Kresge Foundation grants under the foundation’s expanded Challenge Grant Program.
Dr. Heacock said that “This is our first Kresge grant and it is such an honor. It will bring ACC nationwide recognition and prestige.”
The Challenge Grant requires the college to meet its capital campaign goal of $2.5 million by Dec. 1, 2009. If the college succeeds in meeting the goal, then Kresge will award the grant amount.
Campaign Chair Thomas J. Ross is confident the college will raise the funds. “This Kresge challenge will open will inspire even more corporations and individuals to give, especially alumni,” said Mr. Ross, a 1974 ACC graduate.
The concept for the Regional Higher Education Center originated several years ago when it was seen that ACC’s partner colleges, SUNY Plattsburgh and Empire State College, would need more room to expand their bachelor’s and master’s level program offerings at ACC. The new facility was also designed to allow new partners to come on campus. Discussions are now being held with Paul Smith’s College.
Under the terms of the joint partnerships, programs are sought that will complement ACC’s associate degree programs. To ensure that, as well as avoid conflict, separate partners cannot offer the same program.
In addition to leading ACC to its first Kresge grant, the new J. Buckley Bryan, Jr., ACC ‘87, ‘94 Regional Higher Education Center has also led to other “firsts.” It is the first facility of its kind in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Also, SUNY Plattsburgh has designated the ACC campus as a branch campus, also a first in the SUNY system. The branch campus designation allows a student to take an entire SUNY Plattsburgh program at the ACC campus without having to travel to Plattsburgh.