HERSHEY, Pa. — A new Student Enrichment Center at Penn State Harrisburg that will house space for key student services, new and existing, will become a reality if final plans and funds are authorized, as recommended by the Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning today (March 19). The full board will vote on the recommended approval on Friday (March 20).
Over the past few years, Penn State Harrisburg has experienced a substantial increase in its student population. To help address this increase, a 70,000-square-foot Student Enrichment Center will be built in the core of campus. It will house student lounges, food service with open seating and a convenience store, a theater/lecture hall, a spiritual center, the bookstore and offices for student counseling and disability services, honors education, international student support services and international study programs.
The total project budget for the Student Enrichment Center is $30 million with the funding to come from a mix of sources, including reserves for capital improvement, an internal loan, operating funds, student facility fees and Housing and Food Services. In addition, Penn State Harrisburg received leadership gifts from the late Russell E. Horn Sr., a 1933 Penn State graduate, and William Lambert, a 1980 Penn State Harrisburg graduate, and his wife, Sandy, to support the project.
Horn’s gift is dedicated to two areas within the Student Enrichment Center: the Learning Center, which offers a range of tutoring services and fosters student collaborations, and a spiritual meditation center that will accommodate students’ varied religious and spiritual practices. The Lamberts’ gift will support advancement of student advising services, the offices for which will be located in the new building.
“We are grateful for the generosity of Mr. Horn and the Lamberts and appreciate the important role their philanthropy has played in helping this project move forward,” said Chancellor Kulkarni. “The Student Enrichment Center will allow us to provide more comprehensive services to students in one central campus location, enhancing the living and learning experiences of our expanding student population.”