The Chamberlain Student Center expansion was scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2024, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the opening and completion of the expansion will be happening on Oct. 15. Since May of 2022, the Chamberlain Student Center has been undergoing an expansion for current and future Rowan students. 

Kevin Koett is the vice president of Student Life and Dean of Students at Rowan University. 

“We’re looking at Oct. 15 as being the deadline,” said Koett. 

The university wanted students to have a place for clubs and organizations to hold meetings. University officials hope that the new additions to the building will enhance the student experience. 

“We have maintained our laser focus on our students,” said Koett. “This is for the student experience, this is for students, this is for clubs and organizations, this is for student government…. That’s the whole reason why it was built.” 

Besides university officials, others involved in this expansion are also hopeful about what students will think of the additional spaces.

Andrew Oakley is the assistant vice president of Capital Facilities Construction. 

“I think students are going to be very happy and pleased with what’s in there,” said Oakley. 

Supply chain issues and weather conditions contributed to the significant delays in construction that caused the deadline to be set back by an entire semester. The temporary rails are not going to be ready until October, which is one of the reasons for the delay. 

“The weather will impact the ability to do the landscaping and some of the plantings,” said Oakley. “Those rails are in fabrication, but they have to come from a specific manufacturer and they’re not slated to come until probably early October and then they take about a month or three weeks to install.”

While the students are disappointed that the construction was not completed when they arrived back on campus, there is a sense of optimism and excitement around campus to see the updates that have been made to the building. Not only will the inside allow students to accomplish a lot of things, but students will also be able to do a lot of tasks and activities outside. 

Jarred Kelly is a freshman student who just started classes on campus this semester. 

“Just to walk somewhere else for more students to hang out,” said Kelly.

Having access to the areas around the Chamberlain Student Center is something that students are looking forward to. The currently fenced-off regions of sidewalk create the need for detours that force students to walk much further and the completion of the Student Center expansion will allow students to take shortcuts to get to class faster. 

Dwayne Jackson is also a freshman student at Rowan University. 

“I can’t wait for it to be done so I can take shortcuts and stuff to get through the campus faster,” said Jackson.

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