CONTACT:Dr. Keith Cornille
Executive Vice President/Chief Student Services Officer
Madison College
608.246.6464 (office) / 217.5442 (wireless)
Amy Kerwin
Vice President of Community Investments
Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation
608.246.1785 (office)
MADISON, Wis.—During a joint news conference today, officials from Madison College and Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation (community.mygreatlakes.org) and affiliates placed the construction of the college’s new South Campus in its entirety on the fast track by sharing details of a contribution to complete the second phase of the project, and issuing challenge grant for the third and final phase.
At an Aug. 28 news conference, Madison College President Jack Daniels spoke of a two-phase project which would be completed in fall 2019. Phase One would be funded by a $10 million donation from the Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Foundation, and $1.5 million from the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation. Phase one, with 38,000 usable square feet, will house learning spaces, limited support and wrap-around student services.
At that time, Daniels acknowledged that additional donations would be required to build the entire facility. In presentations to other community organizations, he did not commit to a timeline, saying the schedule for the remaining facilities would be determined when funds are in hand.
Today, the project was introduced in three phases. The first, as previously noted, includes purchase of the site currently occupied by the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds at the intersection of Badger Road and Park Street and will include spaces for learning and some student services. Phase Two will increase the usable space to up to 45,000 square feet and include community meeting spaces,
additional classrooms and support services. Phase Three will expand the complex to a total approaching 75,000 square feet and include a comprehensive suite of student services, community access to social service and community-based organizations, and additional classrooms and community meeting spaces.
Richard D. George, president and CEO of Great Lakes, said his organization is committing $3 million to construct the second phase of the project and announced a $3.5 matching grant to complete the final phase. With this challenge grant, Great Lakes is looking to engage the community in completing the project. If Madison College successfully raises $3.5 million before March 31, 2018, Great Lakes will match that amount dollar for dollar and assure the campus will be completed in its entirety in 2019.
“For 50 years, Great Lakes has been dedicated to making college education a reality for our nation’s most at- risk students: students of color, students from low-income homes and students who are first in their families to attend college,” George said. “Traditionally these students have the most to gain from a postsecondary
education but face the greatest impediments in getting there. Locally, these challenges are most acute on Madison’s south side.
“It’s clear from every angle that the new South Campus addresses many barriers residents of that area have faced for too long. There are countless individuals who have the drive and potential to attend college, and by creating a new campus that is accessible, provides robust support services and offers degree options with high
market value, we can affect great change,” George said. “The new campus has the potential to provide incredible opportunities for today’s students and inspire generations of future students – which is why Great Lakes is fully funding the second phase of this project.”
While the success of students who will attend Madison College’s South Campus is important, George is quick to acknowledge the benefits of the project to the community at large, including the presence of independent social service organizations, and spaces where community members can gather for meetings and other activities.
He says the $3.5 million challenge grant places the project, in its entirety, on the fast track for completion. “The need for a new South Campus for Madison College has been abundantly established.” George said. “Completing all three phases concurrently will ensure its impact on the south side of Madison, our community and southcentral Wisconsin will be significant and immediate. I look forward to the greater Madison
community rising to meet this challenge.”
