The principal strength of the Newhouse School since its founding has been its focus on a specific mission: to educate the next generation of professionals who aspire to careers in all media industries. We do not intend to change our student focus. Indeed, a third building in the Newhouse complex will permit us to serve our students in ways that are not possible now because of the space demands that computerization of the School have made over the last 15 years. Because we constructed a dozen computer labs and other teaching spaces to integrate the digital technology, we lost valuable spaces for many other types of activities valued by students. A new building will provide many new opportunities for our students to read, study, socialize, and work in teams with a faculty mentor.
Along with the impact on our students, a third building will permit the School to expand its mission into research and service areas that are in need of increased emphasis. We will be able to seek out more research work from industry clients. Faculty members who are making documentaries or multi-media products will have a place to work so that they do not have to compete with students for facilities. In addition, through two new research centers, we will examine the direction of new media and the impact of digital and broadband revolution on the traditional media. A third building will permit us to extend our brand to alumni and other media professionals by offering continuing education courses, workshops, distance learning degree programs, and training programs for foreign visitors.
Finally, a third building will foster a greater sense of community within the School. We have been so tightly scheduled in so little space for the past decade that casual interactions between students and faculty, students and students, and faculty and faculty have been all but crowded out. We hunger for spaces in which all members of the Newhouse community can break their routine and discuss new projects, the latest industry developments, current events, college life, or even the SU basketball team. We believe this will add measurably to the feeling of community with the School, which has always been one of our greatest assets, and a major reason for our loyal alumni base.
Thanks to the generosity of the Newhouse family, the School founded by S.I. stands prepared for a bright and challenging future. With the support of our donors and alumni and the guidance of our advisory board, our dreams for the third Newhouse building are taking shape. Upon the completion of Building Three and the renovations to Newhouse I and II, the Newhouse School will have achieved:
The revitalized School will continue to attract outstanding high school students and advanced degree candidates, plus a faculty with strong academic, professional and creative credentials. We can predict with confidence that our graduates will continue to dominate the leadership ranks in all areas of the communications industry for generations to come.