Castleton University has announced that it鈥檚 planning to invest $3.6 million to renovate and modernize its science facilities. It鈥檚 part of the school鈥檚 STEM Improvement Project.
The idea, say school officials, is to make Castleton鈥檚 science, technology, engineering and mathematics students as competitive as possible.
Castleton spokesman Jeff Weld says many of the classrooms and labs in the Jeffords Science Center have not been updated since the 1970s and 1980s.
So this $3.6 million investment will provide extensive modernization. 鈥淭his will really take us into that next level, that cutting-edge lab experience that our students deserve and need,鈥� says Weld.
Weld says the state has pledged $1 million toward the effort with money coming from Vermont鈥檚 capital investment funds. Half will be given now, half when matching funds are raised.
Weld says the university plans to raise the additional $2.6 million with grants and private donations. No time-table for construction has been set.
