FORDHAM INVESTS IN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AT ROSE HILL

Board Approves Renovation of Hughes for CBA CB
A Gets Centralized Quarters Hughes Hall

The Fordham University Board of Trustees has taken the first step toward converting Hughes Hall into a new home for the College of Business Administration, a project that will energize business education at Fordham and dramatically expand the amount of academic space at the Rose Hill campus. At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Board approved the design and engineering phase for the renovation of Hughes Hall, a 50,000-square-foot residence hall across from Edwards Parade.The renovation will provide the College of Business Administration with the central, integrated facility it has long needed, while freeing up 10,800 square feet of academic space occupied by CBA throughout the Rose Hill campus. The Board has approved $10 million toward the total $30 million cost of the project. The remaining $20 million will be raised through Excelsior Ever Upward The Campaign for Fordham, the University’s $500 million capital campaign that was launched publicly last year. “The trustees are confident we can raise the funds necessary to give Fordham facilities for a first-rate business education,” said Al Checcio, vice president for development and university relations. "We know the alumni support is out there, and that we can deliver a centralized, modern facility for CBA."The campaign involves a broad cross-section of the Fordham community: deans, staff members, alumni, and friends of Fordham. The current campaign total is $313.3 million, which includes $100.9 million from current and former members of the Board of Trustees. The campaign has already resulted in another major construction project at the Rose Hill campus. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, the University is set to open Campbell, Salice and Conley residence halls this fall, which will more than offset the residential space that will be lost through the renovation of Hughes Hall. Together, the projects will produce a net gain in residential and academic space that supports the goals of educational excellence and national preeminence expressed in the campaign. The renovation will transform the College of Business Administration by bringing all its students and faculty together under one roof, in a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest learning technologies and ample space for special events. “I'm very pleased that the Board of Trustees recognizes the importance of new facilities for CBA. The renovation of Hughes Hall will provide a much-needed academic center for us at the heart of the Rose Hill campus,” said Donna Rapaccioli, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business Administration and dean of business administration faculty. “To date, we have made enormous progress: CBA has a tightly focused strategic plan and an outstanding faculty and student body. The new academic space gives CBA the physical means to achieve its goals.”The College is headquartered in Faber Hall, but many of its classrooms and faculty offices are dispersed throughout the Rose Hill campus. The Hughes Hall renovation will create the centralized, efficient learning environment that business schools across the country have been creating for more than a decade. Since 1995, more than 100 business schools have renovated their buildings or constructed new ones, according to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Eighteen projects are in progress, including 11 that are expected to be done this year, according to AACSB. The renovation of Hughes Hall will nearly quadruple the College’s physical space. It will contain a computer lab, four board/meeting rooms, six study rooms, a student lounge encircled by faculty offices, a 250-seat auditorium, and nine classrooms of more than 40 seats apiece. It will have space for a career center and specialized learning laboratories in global business, entrepreneurship and other subjects. A trading floor will be located on the first floor of Hughes Hall, just inside its front entrance. Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to approximately 14,700 students in its four undergraduate colleges and its six graduate and professional schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in Westchester, the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre at Heythrop College in the United Kingdom.02/10

NY Post--Fordham Increasing Basketball Funding

This is an article in the NY POST about Fordham finally recognizing it needs to SPEND money to be SUCCESSFUL. It is TRULY amazing that it has taken so long for the UNIVERSITY to recognize what it takes to have a successful strategy...NOW THEY NEED TO BE SURE THEY HAVE A STRATEGY.

"The days of Fordham being the doormat of the Atlantic 10 could be coming to an end.

At least that's what the school's administration is hoping for after it announced yesterday that the Board of Trustees approved a major bump in funding for the men's basketball program, moving it from the bottom third of the conference to the top third.

The move likely signals a change in direction for Fordham's coaching search.

After firing Dereck Whittenburg in December following a disastrous start and defections from the embattled program, assistant Jared Grasso was promoted to interim head coach.

And while Grasso has won fans -- particularly among local high school coaches for his work ethic -- the fact that AD Frank McLaughlin can now afford to spend more, likely means that a higher profile name will wind up in The Bronx when a decision is made by April.

"The time is now, and the will is there," Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, said in a statement. "With this renewed commitment, we believe the Fordham basketball program will be a force in the A-10. We are determined to succeed."

With a contract likely worth between $500,000-600,000 and a total package close to $700,000, coaches who could end up as possible candidates include names like Pete Gillen, Paul Hewitt, Mike Brey, Fran McCaffery, Mike Rice, Tim Welsh, Steve Lappas and -- longest of long shots -- Bob Knight.

The Rams are clearly in need of a turnaround. They entered last night's game at Richmond 2-21, 0-11 in the Atlantic 10, after going 3-25 and 1-15 a year ago. They also saw their top player, Jio Fontan, leave the school earlier this season. He's now at Southern Cal.

For his part, McLaughlin supported Grasso yesterday: "The players have responded well to Jared, are playing hard every game, and have made significant progress since Jared was appointed as head coach."

High school coaches were intrigued by the news.

"One of the biggest problems with Fordham was that you'd never see them," said Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello, whose program routinely produces A-10 level talent. "Jared's done a great job. Knowing what I know now about them putting more into the program, I'd definitely send one of my kids there. That hasn't been an option lately."

Fordham also has looked into playing more games in places like the Meadowlands, and some administrators think that if the Big East splits at some point, the Rams could be included."

PS.. can you imagine BOBBY KNIGHT at FORDHAM... you have to be kidding!!

Bill Rothschild, Class 1955