Ribbon-Cutting Highlights University's Commitment to Student
Achievement, Environmental Sustainability, and Local Communities
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Nov 18, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
American
Public University System (APUS) today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony
to celebrate the opening of its new, energy-efficient academic center in
the heart of Charles Town, West Virginia. APUS is a regionally and
nationally accredited online institution of higher education operating
through two universities, American
Military University (AMU) and American
Public University (APU), which educate more than 75,000 adult
learners worldwide.
"The new academic center will further enable faculty and staff to
collaborate in supporting and educating thousands of aspiring students,"
said APUS President & CEO Dr. Wallace E. Boston. "By empowering our
students to identify new opportunities, analyze risk, and seek
innovative approaches to problems, we are helping prepare them for
leadership in a rapidly changing world."
Highlights of the 45,000-square foot, four-story brick facility include
the following:
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Meeting and office space for more than 140 APUS faculty, academic
staff and student advisors;
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A library with one of the nation's major collections for research in
military studies and military history; and
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Energy-efficient design featuring advanced thermal insulation of
windows and walls, variable lighting and cooling to manage energy use,
and solar panels to provide a portion of energy requirements.
APUS will seek gold-level certification in Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) for the facility, which was constructed to
standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. "The
environmentally-friendly features employed in construction and in
material selection were designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
contribute to a healthier work environment for employees and a cleaner
environment overall for the community of Charles Town and Jefferson
County," noted Dr. Boston.
"Integral to the APUS mission is a commitment to expanding access to
affordable online higher education in a manner that supports local
communities and respects the environment," added Dr. Boston. APUS is a
charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents
Climate Commitment - a promise to work toward reducing the online
institution's already low carbon footprint in the years to come. This
includes the use of environmentally-friendly office products, an
extensive recycling program, and the use of two electric vehicles for
local business travel.
Located in the center of the Charles Town - Ranson "Commerce
Corridor", a 1.5 mile segment with more than a dozen abandoned and
under-utilized Brownfields slated for new office and retail development,
the new "green" facility represents a major economic investment in the
downtown area. At the same time, the building's architecture is designed
to preserve and complement the character and history of Charles Town
with a blend of old and new design elements.
Congratulating APUS and the Charles Town-Ranson community on their
achievement, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant
Administrator Mathy Stanislaus stated, "Charles Town and Ranson have
developed a vision for the Commerce Corridor as an area-wide brownfields
plan, and this APUS Academic Center is the first step towards a broader
revitalization of the Commerce Corridor. It is because of this track
record of success in redeveloping brownfields in the Commerce Corridor
that the EPA selected Ranson as one of 23 pilot communities to receive
assistance under our new Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program."
Since 2002, APUS has renovated several local buildings, including the
former County Office Building, the former Jefferson County Hospital and
Knott Nursing Home, the former Acme grocery building and ABC building,
the former Avanti Restaurant, and the former home of Mayor Thomas
Claiborne Green, one of John Brown's defense attorneys. With the
addition of the new academic center, the university owns or leases 15
properties in Charles Town.
About American Public University System
American Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium's 2009
Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and a recipient of
Sloan's Effective Practice Award in 2009 and 2010, offers 79 online
degree programs through its American Public University and American
Military University institutions. APUS's relevant curriculum,
affordability and flexibility help more than 75,000 working adults
worldwide pursue degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to
management and liberal arts. For more information, visit www.apus.edu.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6516223&lang=en
SOURCE: American Public University System
American Public University System
Brian Muys, 703-334-3225
bmuys@apus.edu
or
Chris Symanoskie, 703-334-3880
csymanoskie@apus.edu