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AMHERST, N.Y. – ˿����Ƶ College’s newly established Graduate Studies Technology Center (GSTC), a part of a major initiative to advance the college’s technology infrastructure for its growing graduate programs, will officially be opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Feb. 1.

The celebration will take place at 1 p.m. in the center located in ˿����Ƶ’s Research and Information Commons (RIC). It will include a special presentation to honor State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer for his key role in obtaining $480,000 in funding for the college’s Graduate Studies Technology Initiative.

“Thanks to the vision and support of Senator Ranzenhofer, we have made major academic technology investments that will further enhance our world class graduate degree programs,” said ˿����Ƶ President Gary Olson. “The Graduate Studies Technology Center and other facility improvements supported by the grant will further bolster the educational environment for our students pursuing graduate studies and research.”

Final work funded by the state grant was completed in January. In addition to the Graduate Studies Technology Center, the award has been used to:

• Renovate and upgrade a graduate distance learning lab/classroom used extensively by ˿����Ƶ’s graduate nursing program and other graduate program faculty and students.
• Reconstruction of the college’s main server to enhance technology resources for graduate programs across campus.
• Establishment of a new state-of-the-art graduate studies technology lecture hall in the RIC.
• Permanent fiber and network upgrades to existing technology infrastructure in the primary graduate student academic buildings, including Dun Scotus Hall and the historic Curtis Hall that houses ˿����Ƶ’s graduate programs in social work and physician assistant studies.

“This grant made possible by Senator Ranzenhofer has resulted in major technology improvements that will provide a new set of tools for our outstanding graduate degree programs,” said Dr. Michael Brogan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Our graduate students in several academic disciplines will directly benefit from this major investment, both now and for years to come.”

Thanking ˿����Ƶ for the recognition for his efforts, Ranzenhofer said, “It has been a pleasure working with ˿����Ƶ to secure this funding for such a vital initiative that will enrich the educational experience and resources available for graduate students.”