Cottrell Hall enhances experiential learning for students
By James Ensor, Editor-In-Chief
High Point University broke ground on Cottrell Hall, home of the Flanagan Center for Student Success, on Sept. 28, 2013. The building is now complete, newly opened and set to have a grand opening on Oct. 3.
The 43,000 square-foot building is home to the Belk Center for Entrepreneurship, Dwyer Career and Professional Development, Wehrle Internship Resources, the Sales Training Center, Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, the Student Success Program, the Office of Study Abroad and more.
“We’re living in a connection environment,” said Roger Clodfelter, vice president of communications. “The idea here was to create an environment that connects all the experiences students have amassed at High Point University and explain why they’re important to graduate schools or an employer.”
Cottrell Hall is named after David and Christine Cottrell, owners and founders of RetailData and parents of a student at HPU.
“When my wife and I heard Dr. Qubein speak about his dream and the American dream, we looked at each other and decided that we were in,” Cottrell said. “My family is the American dream. We believe in the mission of High Point University and are proud to be one of the families that have brought this to fruition.”
The $22 million building was paid for in full by parents of current students from Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
“We are so blessed to have generous families who believe in our vision and endorse it for the good of our students,” Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president, said. “While we appreciate top rankings the university has been honored with from U.S. News and World Report and others, the endorsement of parents and the positive outcomes of their students is what we value most.”
Cottrell Hall is designed to replicate modern workspaces such as those found at Apple and Google. Students gain exposure to professional atmospheres through conference rooms that are similar to corporate boardrooms.
“It’s an innovative and creative open space designed to encourage students to go there often to meet, study, research, dialogue, work in small groups, and enjoy coffee at Starbucks,” Qubein said.
Housing many different services for HPU students to utilize, the Flanagan Center for Student Success has glass walls as part of the modern workplace feel.
“All the glass in the building offers transparency, an easier way to see what HPU offers,” Clodfelter said. “And over time, students will be able to connect the relevant dots. Learning how one’s experience informs the next and that the sum of these experiences makes them uniquely qualified for employment when they graduate. It’s an engaging and deeply relevant space on campus.”
Whether a student is looking for job interview tips or a space for group work, Cottrell Hall has the facilities students need.
“It’s all about experiential learning,” Qubein said.