UAlbany Dedicates Site of New School of Business Building
New facility will strengthen the School's undergraduate and graduate educational and research mission

Contact(s):  Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150, ([email protected])

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 3, 2008) -- The University at Albany today dedicated the site of its new School of Business building with support from community, business and political leaders. The University received $54 million in support from the 2008-09 New York State budget for a new state-of-the-art academic and research facility. The building will be student-focused, featuring technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces, wireless internet access, breakout rooms for team projects, space for student and career services, student reception areas, and more graduate assistant work space. The building is expected to be completed by 2013.
 
"The new building will be a significant boost to the faculty and staff of the School of Business in their efforts to become the premier public business school in the northeastern United States," said Interim President George M. Philip. "I would like to personally thank Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, Senator Hugh Farley and the entire Capital Region delegation for their dedication and support for this vital project. I would also like to thank Business School Dean Don Siegel and former Dean Paul Leonard for their efforts to bring this building from vision to reality."
 
"The new School of Business building will offer future generations of students the opportunity to study at one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the country," said Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari. "It was a pleasure to help bring this project to fruition, and I look forward to seeing the end result."
 
As a University at Albany School of Business faculty member for more than 35 years, Senator Hugh Farley has served both the University and New York with distinction. "The faculty, staff and students of the University at Albany School of Business have helped propel the school to a reputation as one of the finest in the Northeast," said Senator Farley. "This new building to house the School will further cement the School's status among the elite business programs in the country."
 
"The University at Albany School of Business offers first-rate faculty, talented students, and highly successful alumni," said Tom Amell, Regional President of First Niagara. "I look forward to seeing this new home for the School foster continued excellence in education and innovation, and real-world experience critical to developing successful young business professionals."
 
The University has raised more than $2 million in private support for the new building, well on its way to a goal of $10 million. The School strives to become the premier public business school in the Northeast by attracting top students, bolstering partnerships with national firms, increasing resources dedicated to research, and contributing to the economic development of the Capital Region.

The School of Business is engaged in exceptional undergraduate, graduate and executive programs; pioneering research; and the ethical and globally oriented pursuit of business opportunity. The School is renowned for innovative contributions to the business and accounting professions through discovery, communication and the application of new knowledge. Eighty-five percent of School of Business undergraduates are employed fulltime by three months of graduation and another 12 percent go on to graduate school. For the fulltime MBA program, about 97 percent are placed in fulltime positions within three months of graduation. The University placed three undergraduates at Goldman Sachs in the summer of 2008.

"The University at Albany School of Business embraces academic tradition, the latest information technology, real-world experience, a practical work ethic and an entrepreneurial vision of the future," said School of Business Dean Donald S. Siegel. "As we advance our plan for the future of the Business School, we can't help but be encouraged by the enthusiasm of our alumni, the greater business community, and most especially the support of the New York State Legislature."
 
"The University at Albany and its School of Business are key economic drivers in my district-- the 46th -- and for upstate New York," said Senator Neil Breslin. "The lessons learned here at the School have never been more important, and this building will help harness the potential for future generations of students."
 
"The School of Business at the University at Albany has served the people of New York for 40 years," said Assemblyman Jack McEneny. "But as technology is changing the business environment daily, the need for a facility that could adapt to this transformative teaching and learning environment is clear. This new building will be just such a facility."
 
"It's a pleasure to help dedicate this site for the future School of Business building at the University at Albany," said Assemblyman Bob Reilly. "By creating a more versatile learning environment, we expect this facility to produce the business leaders of tomorrow, and be considered among the great business schools of the country."

"It's an honor to help dedicate the site for the new School of Business building," said Assemblyman Tim Gordon. "This facility will help the University attract the best and brightest students by offering them a premier business education built on technology, innovation, and excellence in research."
 
"I congratulate the University at Albany on their site dedication today," said Albany County Executive Mike Breslin. "I look forward to seeing this site as it progresses, from construction to completion, and I envision it will be a great location for many Capital Region students to explore the field of business."
 
"This is a wonderful occasion for the University and all of the people in the City of Albany and greater Capital District," said Mayor Gerald D. Jennings. "It is great to see this project moving forward, and see the opportunity the School of Business building will afford for Albany students in the years to come."
 
The School of Business currently occupies a building on the uptown campus designed in the 1960s. Since then, the School's enrollment, faculty, programs and physical needs have grown exponentially. Small-scale renovations and facelifts are no longer sufficient. The new building will position the School to compete more effectively with other prominent business schools for outstanding students and stellar faculty scholars, while improving teaching, learning and research environments.