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October 12, 2006
In just one month, how students are taught, how faculty teach, and how both interact has changed dramatically at Temple University Ambler with the addition of the first major construction on campus in more than 20 years — the Ambler Learning Center. The new facility has become the hub for teaching with technology at Ambler.
On Wednesday, October 11, Temple University President Dr. Ann Weaver Hart, the University Board of Trustees, Temple University Ambler Dean Dr. James W. Hilty, and the Ambler Campus Board of Visitors formally dedicated the 72,000 square-foot Learning Center during special ceremonies, which included a ribbon-cutting, reception, and tours of the $18 million facility.
“The Ambler campus has a long tradition of accessibility and opportunity. Ambler is a great treasure for Temple and in higher education as a whole with its accessibility and excellent educational opportunities,” said President Hart. “The Learning Center creates a greater sense of community and identity for the Ambler campus. It will serve as both an intellectual and social space.”
Joseph W. “Chip” Marshall III, chairman and CEO of Temple University Health System, a member of the Temple University Board of Trustees for 16 years, and a member of the Temple University Ambler Board of Visitors since its inception in 2003, said the Learning Center “provides easy, comfortable access to technology.”
 “I was a student on this campus from 1971 to 1975,” he said. “Being here today shows that, indeed, you can go home again.”
For Philip Albright, Chair of the Ambler Campus Board of Visitors, it was also a homecoming, though, in truth, he’s never truly left Ambler.
“Twenty-nine years ago I was a non-traditional student here. The Learning Center is a giant step in the right direction,” he said. “The Ambler campus is truly a special place with limitless potential.”
Dean Hilty said the campus was “extremely proud” to host Dr. Hart’s first new building dedication during her tenure.
“The Learning Center is already transforming the campus and enhancing the experience of our students and faculty at Ambler. Our future is our students and Ambler is blessed with a spirited and active student body,” said Dr. Hilty while recognizing the many people who made the Learning Center possible over the years of its planning and construction. “This campus is getting better every day. One building doesn’t make a campus, yet this one building makes a wonderful difference.”
Joe Corbett, President of the Ambler campus Student Government Association, called the opening of the Learning Center “a new era for the Ambler campus.”
 “The University is experiencing many changes at this time — with a new president, Dr. Hart, a new Dean at Ambler, Dr. Hilty, and the new Learning Center. Never before has this campus seen so much excitement and life,” he said. “No longer is it just residents in the Dining Center, on the tennis and basketball courts, or in the pool. Now we see commuter students there as well. The Learning Center is really bringing the students together — Ambler students are no longer in the shadows of cutting edge technology, we are at the forefront. This is one small step for Temple University and a giant leap for the Ambler campus.”
The new state-of-the-art building includes 11 multimedia classrooms, seven computer teaching laboratories, a distance-learning facility, fully integrated technology including wireless access throughout the building, a math-science-writing tutorial center, two art studios, a café, and a 300-seat auditorium.
According to Susan Hyer, Associate Director of Computer Services at Temple University Ambler, the Learning Center adds 385 new computers to the campus.
 “I believe that the Learning Center has cultivated a stronger sense of campus life for students, faculty, and staff, and has promoted greater community outreach,” Hyer said. “The building has integrated tremendous learning spaces for enhanced instruction, socialization, and collaboration, as well as providing for additional technology resources required by most Temple curricula.”
More “smart” multimedia technology is on the horizon for the Learning Center as well, Hyer said.
“We incorporated a great deal of ‘smart’ technology throughout the entire Learning Center; most noteworthy, in the 300-seat auditorium, which will serve as a lecture hall for credit and non-credit courses, community events, summer theater camps, student life programs, Ambler graduation ceremonies, guest speakers, and future theater and concert productions,” she said. “We are expanding interactive software technologies to engage faculty and students in active learning. Two such applications include NetOp School, which is being incorporated into all computer classrooms for virtual and networked teaching, and TurningPoint’s student and audience response systems for use with interactive classroom lectures, course participation, surveys, opinion polls, student orientations, marketing, and special events.”
 The Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, which calls the Ambler campus home, plans to take full advantage of the new learning space and technology that the Learning Center provides, said Dr. Mary Myers, Acting Dean for the department.
“We do hope to pilot an interdisciplinary general education program called The Science of Sustainable Design: Focus on Philadelphia in the Learning Center auditorium next fall,” she said. “That course will be taught by faculty from Environmental Studies, Architecture, Community and Regional Planning, and Landscape Architecture. It will be open to all undergraduates and will involve field trips to ‘green’ design examples in the city and the region.”
Kimmy Karczewski, Ambler Student Government Vice President of Student Affairs, said she has high hopes for the building and its impact on student life.
“I really hope the new building brings out the ‘Ambler spirit’ in all of us and encourages students to get involved and make a difference on the campus. I think it’s a beautiful building that brings so much life and energy to the campus,” she said. “I think it has great  potential to bring commuter and resident students together — to attend, and hopefully participate in, any number of programs that the auditorium will allow us to do. I think the Learning Center gives students another place they can call their own at Ambler.”
Jittu George, a sophomore majoring in pre-pharmacy and Student Government Association Treasurer, said he thinks the Learning Center will help diversify students’ experience on campus.
“Students aren’t just spending their time in Bright Hall or going to classes in Dixon or Widener. It spreads them around a bit; helps them become familiar with areas like the Dining Center and the pool,” he said. “With the lecture-size classrooms, my hope is that programs that might not have been offered here before may become available. It’s a modern environment and I think it is a good sign of things to come.”
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