Kettering University has announced a $150 million dollar fundraising campaign entitled “Boldly Forward” and unveiled plans for a new Learning Commons — a major academic hub to be built on its campus. The campaign has already raised $103.6 million dollars.

“Boldly Forward” is a comprehensive campaign with the top priority being the new 105,000 square-foot, state-of-art Learning Commons. 

“Investments, like the ones we are making, have a host of far reaching implications for us and our community. First and foremost, to our students, through it we boldly affirm our commitment to providing them with an academic environment that remains unrivaled anywhere in the country, with second-to-none learning advantages that guarantee they have a competitive edge when they leave this University,” said Dr. Robert K. McMahan, President of Kettering University. “As a leading STEM institution and research center, this University continues making significant and impactful investments demonstrating that we are not only steadfastly committed to remaining a world-leader on the technological stage — but, moreover, that we are intent on leading that charge.”

Showcasing the hallmarks of a Kettering education, the Learning Commons takes a leap forward into the future with a digital library, foregoing the conventional book stacks of a traditional academic library. With digital resources such as books and videos available through streaming services, the entire building will serve as a library for students, faculty, and staff. The building will house collaboration spaces, an auditorium, access points for information resources, new dining facilities, and a student worker space that has a focus on mobility and artificial intelligence.

 “As we look to the future, this undertaking demonstrates Kettering’s ongoing commitment to providing a world-class learning environment for students and faculty that is second to none,” said Gary Cowger, Chairman and CEO of GLC Ventures, LLC, a management consultancy on business, manufacturing, and technology strategy and global organizational structures and implementation.

Cowger serves as Kettering’s Campaign Chairman and leads the multi-million-dollar fundraising campaign for the University. The University’s fundraising and advancement activities have set all-time institution records across all levels. 

With the addition of the new Learning Commons, Kettering University continues its ongoing investment in the City of Flint. An estimated 118 new construction jobs are expected to be created as a result of the Learning Commons, with additional jobs to follow upon completion of the new building.