UMass Boston Community Packs Campus Center for Patrick Building Announcement

A crowd of students, faculty, and staff packed the Campus Center Terrace last week to hear Governor Deval Patrick, a frequent visitor to campus, announce the allocation of $100 million in funding for the construction of General Academic Building No. 2 at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Design work for the new building, which will include classrooms and academic support space, is expected to begin in 2014. Construction is slated for 2016. When complete, General Academic Building No. 2 will join the Integrated Sciences Complex, currently under construction, and General Academic Building No. 1, now in the design phase, as the first new buildings in the university's master plan.

“This afternoon’s announcement is yet another show of support from you and your administration, on behalf of the students of our Commonwealth,” UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley told Governor Patrick. “It is proof of your faith in our ability to give them the education they deserve, one that will help them serve our state – and all while being a pretty darn good bargain.”

Joining Governor Patrick and Chancellor Motley at the ceremony were state Education Secretary Paul Reville, UMass President Robert Caret, Chairman of the UMass Board of Trustees Henry Thomas, and Student Trustee Alexis Marvel.

The governor’s 2013 Capital Plan includes $607 million in new bond funding set aside for projects across the UMass system. The investment in public education will help ensure that Massachusetts preserves its world-renowned innovation economy.

In Massachusetts, “education is our calling card,” Governor Patrick said. “It’s as important for us as coal is in West Virginia or corn is in Iowa.”

“We have an advantage because of that reputation,” Governor Patrick said. “But we will only retain it if we invest in it.”

Chancellor Motley told the crowd that the projects under way at UMass Boston are part of President Caret’s plan for the system.

“Each building we’re designing, each course and academic program we’re planning, every improvement, renovation, or tweak to this campus and our offerings, is in service to President Caret’s clear direction and vision for the university system,” Chancellor Motley said.

Governor Patrick also announced an $118,000 award to UMass Boston for the creation of a professional development program, and to develop civic engagement strategies. This money is part of $2.5 million in Performance Incentive Fund grants made to the UMass campuses and state universities.

The day’s announcements were “about seeing our future in you,” Governor Patrick told students. “Make the most of it.”