UIU-Mesa finds permanent location
in city's Fiesta District
UIU will convert the former Borders building on Alma School Road in the Mesa Fiesta District into the permanent location of the UIU-Mesa education center.
FAYETTE, Iowa (December10, 2012) – Upper Iowa University has found a permanent home for its Mesa education center in a vacant retail building in the Fiesta District. UIU will move into the former Borders location at 1361 S. Alma School Road in spring 2013.
"This is a significant new private investment in the Fiesta District which advances both our educational and economic development objectives," said City of Mesa Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh. "Moreover, the partnership between UIU and Mesa Community College will, along with our other new colleges and universities, be a great asset for our "Mesa Counts on College" initiative and will offer students yet another pathway to college completion."
"This new location is ideal for the UIU-Mesa Center," said William Duffy, senior vice president of UIU Academic Extension. "It provides space for our current needs as well as our projected enrollment growth. The Fiesta District location is within close proximity to several key partners: Mesa Community College, with whom we have an articulation agreement to make transferring credits simpler; the new Mesa law enforcement facility under construction; and several medical facilities. This is a primary redevelopment area for Mesa and will give UIU ties to areas in which we can meet the educational needs of the service area, such as education, health care, and criminal justice."
"In our home community of Fayette, Iowa, UIU partners with the city on a variety of economic development initiatives, and we look forward to working with the City of Mesa and restoring the vitality of the Fiesta District," Duffy added.
UIU's renovation of the former Borders building is the latest in a series of Fiesta District initiatives, which include expansion of health care, education, retail, and hospitality facilities, as well as construction of the Fiesta District Police Station.
Initially, UIU-Mesa will occupy 13,000 square feet under a 15-year lease with possible addition of another 17,000 square feet in three years. UIU is projecting enrollment growth to 750 students by year five and expects UIU-Mesa to become one of its largest education centers. The UIU-Mesa Center will house classrooms, a computer lab, curriculum lab, nursing classroom, offices and a student commons.
UIU launched its 19th U.S. education center in Mesa in September 2012, opening administrative offices in the Mesa Public Schools Student Services Building. UIU-Mesa is currently registering students for classes that begin on January 7, 2013.
Duffy said UIU responded to a request for proposal from the City of Mesa, which is working to expand educational offerings to area residents through the Higher Education Initiative. UIU has been providing educational programs beyond its Fayette campus since the 1970s and has been establishing education centers to serve communities across the United States for more than 30 years.
UIU has a unique academic calendar that offers classes in six eight-week terms year-round with rolling admissions. UIU-Mesa offers the following majors: Elementary Education; Nursing - RN to BSN; Business (accounting, business administration, human resources management, and management); Criminal Justice; Human Services; Psychology; Public Administration (general, law enforcement or fire science emphasis areas); and Social Science. UIU can help students access financial aid for which they are eligible, and some UIU scholarships will be offered to assist at-risk Mesa students.
Tuition discounts are available for students pursuing majors in education, nursing, criminal justice and public administration.
Additional information is available on the UIU website at www.uiu.edu. The Mesa Center can be contacted at 480-834-4620 or murdockb@uiu.edu.
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu