They looked liked high school labs from 1942. They did not just look bad. The scruffy facilities also dragged down enrollment. Trustees were anything but timid in their response. A tired old manor house that holds admissions and other offices was lovingly restored.
Crews are at work on another dorm, scheduled to open in the fall.
The college's trustees considered the need for new facilities so urgent that they decided to build first and pay later. So far, the building boom has paid off. This year's freshman class came from a greater variety of high schools than ever, many beyond commuting distance. The new science facility had a particularly strong effect. The number of biology majors has quadrupled.