139113 SRU Mag Back NEW - Slippery Rock University

SRU spearheaded development of the Regional Learning Alliance at Cranberry
Woods, which opened this fall 20 miles north of Pittsburgh in the Cranberry business
corridor. The workforce development site, in the hottest market in southwestern
Pennsylvania, brings 11 educational providers under one roof to provide education
and job training. SRU offers undergraduate and graduate programs there, making
higher education possible for more people.
“S
tudents have reacted very
positively to the pedestrian
corridor, downtown work and
other improvements. It is clearly a
recruitment tool to have an aesthetically
pleasing downtown and
more appealing campus. The
pedestrian corridor not only connects
the older, traditional end of
campus to the new, it provides a
safe, well-lit environment for social
interaction. The years to come will
bring other exciting advances.”
—Dr. John Bonando, SRU’s assistant vice
president for student services
Town gown: More than 100 University, townspeople and Slippery Rock business leaders
gathered this fall to celebrate the completion of a $4.2 million revitalization of the Slippery
Rock business district. University leaders expect the vastly improved town to be a recruitment
draw. A gazebo and walkway with murals painted by SRU students are among the
improvements: James Myford, professor emeritus of art, made this sculpture (above right)
for the gazebo site.
The familiar walk from Weisenfluh Dining Hall to Morrow Field House dramatically
improved this fall when workers completed a new pedestrian corridor. As students take the
pathway to classes, they pass four boulders or spheres representing their freshman, sophomore,
junior and senior years. Each boulder becomes successively smoother, illustrating their growth
at SRU. The fourth boulder is polished like glass. The corridor is part of on-going efforts to
further improve the appearance of campus. Come visit and see for yourself.
ADVANCES
www.sru.edu 13