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Rockford U. Rededicates Burpee Center To Student Use

“In so many ways, what is old is now new again. That really reflects the case of this unique space.”

That’s how Rockford University President Robert Head addressed the group gathered Friday in the restored snack bar area of the remodeled Blanche Walker Burpee Center on the Rockford Campus.

Built in 1963 as then-Rockford College moved from its location just south of downtown, the building was intended to be a center of student activity.

Credit WNIJ/Victor Yehling
Rockford University President Robert Head

But, Head explained, the building was transformed in the 1980s to become largely administrative building and student activities were largely squeezed out.

When Rockford College became Rockford University in July 2013, plans were announced to return the Burpee Center to its original purpose. The reason was simple, according to the results of a Ford Foundation study.

“Half of what you learn during your college years is learned inside the classroom and half of what you learn is learned outside of the classroom,” Head summed up part of the findings.

“So this new student space becomes the heart of the campus where residential students, commuter students, undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff have an opportunity to come together in an informal environment to talk, to discuss matters,” he added, “and I think that truly helps to enhance the educational learning journey of our students.”

Work on the $5 million project began in May 2014, and students actually started using the new facilities this March.

“It’s wonderful to walk through here at any given time and see the space being used by our students in great numbers and with great delight,” Head said.

The main-floor lobby of the building now has a welcome desk to greet and assist visitors, and the former Grace Roper Lounge – where seminars, lectures, receptions and some classes were help – is now an open multi-use space with televisions, enclosed study rooms, game tables and more.

The original Burpee snack bar has been recreated in a more cozy style, and even incorporates a fireplace built of bricks form the dismantled McGaw hall.

There are study spaces and computers and televisions located around the main floor, and portions of the second floor around the dining hall are being remodeled for additional student use.

Dr. Head said the university is coming off a year with record enrollment and is anticipating an increase in students in the fall. He said the campus hopes to see more residential students in the future.

“Strategically, becoming more residential and growing in size is an absolute mandate for Rockford University,” he said. “We’re well on our way. This last fall we had a record enrollment – at least a record for the last 20 years.

“Our expectations are that we will have an increase in enrollment in August later this year and more residential students.”

Credit WNIJ/Victor Yehling
Longtime Rockford College trustees John Whitehead and Georgeanne Eggers attended the Blanche Walker Burpee Center rededication. The building is named after Whitehead's grandmother, who was instrumental in securing the campus site.

He said the university had converted some of the original student residence space for administrative use, which presents a small challenge for the future.

“In fact, we are encountering a pretty nice problem,” he said. “We are running out of residential space but look to develop plans that make sure we have additional spaces for students to live by the Fall of 2017.”

Among the guests at Friday’s reception was John Whitehead, a retired Rockford real-estate legend and a longtime member of the Rockford College Board of Trustees. He is the grandson of Blanche Walker Burpee, a college trustee and donor for who the building was named.

Another former trustee from the pre-university days, Georgeanne Eggers, also was in attendance.

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