It was the first new construction in more than 20 years for the 136-year-old institution, and President Julianne Malveaux said it marked a watershed moment for the college, noting that as recently as 2002, the institution was in such bad shape that a national publication questioned its ability to survive.

“We have come a long way since 2002 so today is a great day,” Dr. Malveaux said. “It’s one of those things you knew you could do with a lot of encouragement and a great team but when you really see it getting done, you want to cry or dance or a combination thereof. Bennett College is at a point where we’re talking about moving from surviving to thriving. We’re talking about moving from good to great.”

The college also announced in August a record enrollment of almost 800 students this year.

The construction includes:

• A Wellness Complex that will include upgrades to the gymnasium, tennis courts, a soccer field and a walking track.

• The Intergenerational Center/Children’s House that will include classrooms to accommodate 54 students, two observation rooms to enhance teaching and learning, and facilities for programs and activities for seniors.

• A 144-bed Honors Residence Hall.

• A Global Learning Center that will include a 200-seat auditorium, classroom space, and space the community can share such as a banquet facility.

The work is expected to be completed by August 2010, except the Global Learning Center, which has a target completion date of January/February 2011.

The construction comes on top of major campus renovations this summer – at the Henry Pfeiffer Science Building, the Student Union, and the Merner Pfeiffer Heating Plant (which was transformed into a home for the Department of Journalism and Mass Studies). Also, the curriculum has been overhauled to include focus on four areas: communications, women’s leadership, global studies and entrepreneurship.

The recession helped Bennett in some ways, officials said. Lower interest rates allowed the college to restructure its debt, yielding $21 million in financing without increasing debt payments, and lower construction costs allowed for a more extensive capital improvement program.

Also, despite economic conditions, the Bennett College National Alumnae Association in the last fiscal year raised more than $1 million.

For more information, visit www.bennett.edu or call the Office of Public Relations/Publications at 336-517-2267. Interviews with Dr. Malveaux can be arranged through one of the contacts at the top of the page.

Bennett College for Women, located in Greensboro, NC, is a small, private, historically black institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Bennett offers a liberal arts education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and lifelong learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society. For more information, visit www.bennett.edu.