UTICA — Utica College is leasing space in the Harza Building in downtown Utica to expand its online division and reach out to new students over the next five to seven years.
Empire State Development is supporting the project with a $250,000 state grant. The project will retain 27 jobs and create 25 new, permanent jobs over the next five years.
Through its expanded online division, Utica College will be able to reach out and compete nationally by offering 38 undergraduate majors, 29 minors, 20 graduate-degree programs, and a number of pre-professional and special programs. The college also offers several programs that address emerging disciplines such as cybersecurity and economic crime as well as areas of high need such as nursing and other health professions.
Utica College currently has 1,300 online students. Plans call for the addition of more educational programs in the future, which will create new jobs. The college hopes to increase its number of online students to 4,000 over the next five to seven years.
The college’s online division will locate in leased space in the 87,500-square-foot Harza Building. Utica College will renovate 16,000 square feet to include electrical upgrades, carpeting, office build-outs, stairwell improvements, data and phone wiring upgrades, and fiber infrastructure to the building. The project also includes the purchase and installation of furniture, fixtures, and equipment to support the initial setup of back-office operations with workstations, computers and furniture, smart conference room facilities, office equipment, building signage, and moving costs.
“With today’s announcement, Utica College joins an elite group of forward-looking, entrepreneurial colleges that recognize the power of online learning to provide affordable, career-focused courses for working adults,” college President Todd S. Hutton said in a release. “Our goal is to expand the number of online programs we currently offer, adding between two and five programs each year.”
Contact DeLore at tdelore@tmvbj.com