Student reporters meet with Kim Shea, Gateway Community College admissions director, and Michael Buccilli, director of career services, at the old Gateway campus on Sargent Drive.
The following stories were written by 8th- through 12th-graders participating in a New Haven Student Journalism Project Summer Institute sponsored by the COOP Center for Creativity. They were taught and coached by Laura Pappano, Alix Boyle, Lauren Mednick and Julia Calagiovanni.
OPENING A NEW GATE TO DOWNTOWN
By Miranda Noad, Tony Howell, Mark Ifill-Haney, and Taylor Mewborn
New Haven Student Journalism Project Reporters
After decades located in a nearly windowless former warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Gateway Community College is moving to a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly campus in the heart of downtown New Haven.
“It’s a win-win-win-win,” said Michael Buccilli, director of Career Services for Gateway Community College. The new campus – a pair of structures joined by an elevated glass walkway – is expected to attract about 9,000 students to the downtown. Tuition for Connecticut residents will remain at $3,600 per year (about $10,00 per year for out-of-state students).
The campus will bring more business and life to previously desolate blocks. Buccilli says the central location will increase opportunities for students to be involved with Yale, with local businesses and – in many cases – will save them hours of commuting time. To encourage students to use public transportation, Buccilli says they offering discounted bus passes.
The new location brings two campuses together from Sargent Drive and North Haven, and is designed to make the college more accessible to the public. The first floor of the stylish new buildings features a library, art gallery, day care center, and restaurant called Café Vincenzo run by the college’s culinary students.
“This is New Haven and greater New Haven’s Community College,” says admissions director Kim Shea, who says they have room for as many as 10,000 students, up from their current enrollment of 7,328. All but two programs, the auto shop and solar energy, will be located at the new facility.
Unlike the old building, Buccilli says the new campus will be a better learning environment. It will have air conditioning, views of the harbor, study areas on every floor, inspirational quote along the stairwells, and today’s technology in every classroom. “It will be a significant improvement,” he says.
The building is also green and has met environmental standards to earn the LEED Gold certification. It is so energy friendly that Buccilli says faculty and staff were not allowed to bring their old coffee pots or mini-fridges to the new building. They have also added more bike racks to encourage students to ride to class.
Still there is some concern the new campus will bring increase parking problems. Dimitrios Krikis, manager of the Atlas Restaurant located right next to the college is looking forward to more business, but says, “there will be more traffic.” Mr. Krikis is expanding his hours, and updating the catering menu and website to attract more customers.
As construction workers in mid-July hung eco-friendly light fixtures, it was clear that the building – and the whole downtown – were being illuminated. Gateway, says Krikis, “will liven up this area.”
New Haven Student Journalism Project reporters visit the eco-friendly new Gateway campus.
A GREENER, MORE CONVENIENT GATEWAY TO OPEN DOWNTOWN
By Emma Zehner, Sarah Werthmann, Melanie Espinal, and Jason Dunn
New Haven Student Journalism Project Reporters
After decades in a nearly windowless former warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Gateway Community College is moving to a state-of-the-art eco-friendly campus in the heart of downtown New Haven.
According to Evelyn Gard, college spokeswoman, Gateway expects to increase its student body from the current 7,328 to about 10,000 students within the next three years.
“Registration is up 21 percent since the same time last year,” Gard said.
Business owners expect the influx of students to create more activity in downtown.
“This area is going to be surrounded by Gateway students and that will liven up this area,” said Dimitrios Krikis, manager of Atlas Restaurant. He estimates business will increase by at least 10 percent. Additionally, Krikis will offer a 10 percent discount to all college students, now to include Gateway.
Although Gateway staff and store owners are convinced that the news is all good, some New Haven residents believe that traffic and parking may be a problem. Gateway will also provide bus passes in the financial aid package to encourage students to use public transportation.
By partnering with Yale University, Gateway hopes to introduce its students to jobs in fields such as information technology, administration and food service, said Michael Buccilli, director of career services.
“It’s a win, win, win, win,” Buccilli said.
Gateway is making numerous strides to increase environmental awareness, and decreasing the college’s carbon footprint. The new building is LEED Gold certified and features solar panels and bike racks in the parking garage. Employees are even leaving their coffee pots behind in order to save energy.
Despite the $198 million cost of the new building, tuition will not increase because it is set by the state and is the same for all community colleges, about $3,600 per year. The building will have many amenities including a daycare center, a restaurant, an art gallery and a clinic run by Hill Health Center.
After 25 years in separate buildings in North Haven and Long Wharf, the two Gateway learning communities are joining for the first time. The two campuses were eleven miles apart. Buccilli explained, adding that the new campus will make learning more “convenient” for students.
Student reporters Miranda Noad (left), Jason Dunn (right), and Coop Center for Creativity intern Julia Calagiovanni take notes in the lobby of the new Gateway campus building on Church Street.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES AS GATEWAY RELOCATES
By Cairo McMillan, Donna Willett, Omar White, and Navardo Williams
New Haven Student Journalism Project Reporters
After decades in a nearly windowless former warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Gateway Community College is moving to a state-of-the-art and eco-friendly campus in the heart of New Haven.
Michael Buccelli, Director of Career Services, described Gateway’s move as a “win, win, win, win” for businesses, students, the school, and the community.
The new Gateway building is eco-friendly with modern technology. The cooling systems and computer labs are state-of-the-art. Gateway is offering students reduced bus fare in the form of a CT Transit pass for a semester. Students can get the pass at the bookstore. There are also more bike racks to encourage students to bike to class. Some people are concerned about how much traffic will increase downtown as the student body grows. There is a new parking garage to accommodate cars.
The training students receive at Gateway will help them find jobs or continue their education. One program prepares students to work in restaurants. There is a daycare on the first floor for students with children, and other students learn about childcare.
There will be many new jobs. Gateway plans to add security personnel and technology support. In the area around Gateway, there will be a need for more jobs, as well as more customers.
Dimitrios Krikis, manager of the Atlas Restaurant, plans to expand his hours and make his prices affordable for students. He is going to offer all students a 10% discount. New businesses, such as Elm City Market, have already moved into the area.
Buccilli says that Mayor John DeStefano is excited about the new Gateway building. Gateway expects a large increase in students. Eventually, they expect 10,000 students. This almost 3,000 more than the 7,328 there are now. Registrations are up 21% from this time last year. But tuition prices won’t change just because the building is new.
If you haven’t seen the new building yet, check it out. Maybe even register for a class. The new Gateway will be open for the new school year. The fall semester starts September 4th.