65,100 square foot Koelbel Building features distance learning technology
Faculty and staff members moved into the new Leeds School of Business building on Aug. 9th and almost immediately had to acclimate themselves new surroundings and features.
The Koelbel Building has a total of 65,100 square feet. The structure has twenty-five team rooms, compared to three in the old building. New classrooms in the school have chairs with full rotation that allow students to talk to other students behind them.
“I love the new chairs,” Megan Hammer, a senior business major, said.
One of the features of the new business school is new technology.
The classrooms feature distance-learning technology that allows faculty to broadcast lectures on the web. Distance-learning technology also allows for guest speakers to talk to a class by teleconference.
This technology was available in the old building, but it was limited.
“Students will get a much better learning experience,” Chris Yung, professor of finance, said about the new distance-learning equipped classrooms.
Another new feature is the career connections office. The office gives aid to business students to get internships and jobs when they graduate.
Despite these improvements, overall enrollment in the business school is down.
Total enrolment is currently 3,188 students, 132 less than last year.
The drop is due to entrance requirements for transfer students having been increased from a 3.0 GPA to a 3.3.
“We’re trying to manage enrollment, even though we have a bigger building,” Douglas Nogami, director of the business school, said.
Ten years ago, 2,500 students attended the business school with approximately the same number of faculty as they have today.
Despite the drop in overall business students since last year, there are two areas of increased enrollment.
This year 727 freshmen are enrolled, up 62 students from last year. Also, enrollment in the MBA program, which averages 50 students per year, jumped to 78 students this year.
Some workers are still in the building, putting the finishing touches on the school. However, work should be completely finished in time for the school’s dedication on Oct. 19.
The dedication ceremony, which is open to the public, will bring together Governor Bill Ritter, University President Hank Brown, and the Koelbel family, for whom the building is named.
“The Koelbel family has been a long-time supporter and valued advisers to the school,” Nogami said.
Contact staff writer Aaron Musick at aaron.musick@thecampuspress.com
