Jacksonville State University Capital Campaign

Jacksonville State University has a solid tradition of teacher education, graduating more students in teaching programs than any other Alabama university. Teachers truly touch the future, and it is our aim to equip our potential teachers with excellence subject matter information, newest methods, most advanced educational technologies, and best resources in the field today. By creating a superb learning environment in which to deliver these tools and information, the College of Education and Professional Studies will attract more of the best and brightest into the teacher education field, have the facilities to expand the program, and remain a model of excellence in education.

The College of Education and Professional Studies expansion plans include renovation, reallocation of space, and construction of a new facility. The renovation of Ramona Wood Hall and the construction of additional classroom and office space is needed to provide relief from overcrowding as well as a more attractive and updated learning environment for the College of Education and Professional Studies. The Power of 125 campaign’s goal of $2,500,000 will support the overall budget of $7.5 million for this project.

Since its founding in 1883 as an institution to prepare teachers, Jacksonville State’s primary mission has been to provide quality education to the citizens of Alabama by integrating traditional academic pursuits with career-oriented programs at reasonable costs. Jacksonville State is recognized for its preparation of teachers.

The College of Education and Professional Studies currently serves 34 percent of the school population, graduating the largest number of teachers and educators in the state. The education unit is among the 13th largest in the Southeast and the 40th largest in the nation. In 1996, the College of Education was renamed and added the Departments of Communication, Technology and Engineering, and TV Services. The College faces a shortage of classroom and office space to serve the expanding population of students. The vision is for all classrooms to be “smart” classrooms similar to the thirteen smart-rooms available today enabling teachers to teach with the most up-to-date technology tools.

New facilities will assist the College of Education and Professional Studies in meeting the State Department of Education recommendations to infuse technology use in every class. The expansion will offer an additional state-of-the-art technology laboratory, a tutoring center, an expanded library collection, and enhance the instructional service unit to provide additional teaching supplies for the Instructional Service Unit.

The expansion project will enable the College to continue providing educational instruction to the community through the Teaching/Learning Center (TLC) . For the past 20 years the TLC has provided free tutoring to more than 5,630 children. By providing an outstanding learning environment in which to deliver educational tools and information, the College of Education and Professional Studies will continue to lead the state in the preparation of educators.