BILOXI, MS – Tulane’s Mississippi Coast Campus officially unveiled its new, expanded campus today, Monday, October 26, 2015, at a dedication ceremony led by Tulane University President Michael Fitts. Today’s grand opening of the new Tulane Campus marks ten years since the university reopened following Hurricane Katrina.
The eco-friendly campus is equipped with a sophisticated security system, two PC labs and a Mac computer lab. The new campus is a 14,961-square-foot building with an academic area twice the size of the old campus, and it allows the faculty and staff to serve 500 evening and weekend students and an additional 500 daytime students.
"At Tulane we are on the forefront of educating students to be leaders of the 21st century – staying ahead of changes in education and making sure our students are well prepared for tomorrow's challenges,” said Tulane President Michael Fitts. “Whether its technological advances or new program offerings, we are committed to providing students at all Tulane campuses with every advantage to succeed in the job market today and in the future. I am extremely proud of our students and staff at the Mississippi Coast Campus, and I value the hard work that went into building this state-of-the-art campus.”
The new building allows the campus to offer more community workshops, training seminars and testing. The University also plans to increase its capacity to offer interactive video conferencing for both academic and community usage in the near future.
“It’s a day of reflection and jubilation,” said Richard Marksbury, Dean of Tulane School of Continuing Studies. “Ten years ago Hurricane Katrina destroyed our Mississippi Coast Campus, and our dedicated staff worked tirelessly to reopen the school. That happened 10 years ago to this day. We hope the new facility will serve as a beacon of higher education along the Mississippi coast.”
Biloxi Mayor Andrew Gilich attended Monday’s grand opening, and he addressed the crowd sharing passionate words of hope as he discussed Biloxi’s future of higher education. Monday’s celebration included dozens of participants who enjoyed food, drinks and a small jazz ensemble, which preceded the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
“It took a team effort and hard work to open the campus on time, and I'm excited to start our new journey,” said Karen Lucas, Associate Dean of the Tulane Mississippi Coast Campus. “Our students, faculty and staff are thrilled with the new facility and all of its amenities and cutting-edge technology. Tulane has made a long-term commitment to this community with this campus that accommodates and welcomes all motivated coastal residents who want to change their lives and create a brighter future. Our mission is affordable, exceptional higher education for the Mississippi Coast.”
