St. John Fisher College Receives Grant for New Student Housing Project

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that St. John Fisher College will receive $145,000 through the Higher Education Capital (HECap) Matching Grant program. The funds will be used to furnish and equip the Upper Quad Residence Hall, a new living space expected to open in fall 2019.

HECap provides matching grants to private, not-for-profit colleges and universities across the state for projects that create construction jobs and drive investment in communities. Campuses that receive grants are required to invest at least $3 of their own funds for every $1 of state funds they receive. A competitive application process, Fisher was one of 39 institutions in New York State to receive HECap funding.

“Over the last 15 years, the College has grown its academic offerings and invested in a number of academic facilities. We are proud to now have the opportunity to expand our student life spaces with the construction of this vibrant new residence hall,” said Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the College. “We are grateful to be a recipient of HECap funding, as it allows us to increase the number of students who benefit from living on campus. The College’s residential environment helps our students to maximize their educational opportunities, enhancing their sense of belonging and engagement with the community.”

Located in the heart of the campus, the Upper Quad Residence Hall will house approximately 150 undergraduate students annually, addressing student demand for on-campus living space. The 47,700 square foot building will include 80 bedrooms, four quiet study spaces, and social, learning, and recreational common areas across three floors. The building will also feature a kitchen, as well as laundry and recycling facilities on each floor.

The HECap project funds will support the purchase of furniture for each room, as well as seating and tables for the common areas, among other items.

The funds will also help purchase a permanent energy consumption meter that will turn the residence hall into a living laboratory by providing usage data for sustainability students at Fisher. They will have the opportunity to collect and analyze energy use. From there, they can participate in energy and sustainability planning, assist the College in setting goals to reduce its carbon footprint, and educate the campus community on best practices in energy conservation.

In addition, the new living space also allows the College to explore options for theme halls, which promotes connectedness among students in particular programs.