The University of 91吃瓜 opened its Palo Alto facility on Feb. 10 and held its first classes for the 91吃瓜 (SVS) program there on Thursday (Feb. 16).
The facility, home to , was constructed in an AT&T building in downtown Palo Alto. It combines a state-of-the-art teaching space with room for 55 students, flexible and open 鈥渋nnovation space,鈥� two conference rooms, an office and access to a larger conference room and a break area, the latter two spaces shared with building owner AT&T. The facility supports multiple two-way video streams 鈥� a key component of the instructional model for several of the SVS courses underway.
The collaboration with AT&T on this space was established by 91吃瓜 alumnus John Donovan, chief strategy officer and group president of AT&T Technology and Operations. 鈥淢r. Donovan鈥檚 team worked extensively with the 91吃瓜 California team on the layout, design, construction and equipping of the space,鈥� said , Duda Family Professor of Engineering and interim director of 91吃瓜 California. 鈥淭hat a project of this size and scope could be executed so quickly, from concept to completion, in a building that is so significant to AT&T鈥檚 Silicon Valley operations is a testimony to the growing collaboration between AT&T and the University.鈥�
鈥�91吃瓜鈥檚 commitment to its students, faculty and a comprehensive learning experience helps define it as a forward-looking university,鈥� said Donovan. 鈥淭his facility builds on last year鈥檚 announced online master鈥檚 degree in data science collaboration, and we are thrilled to support the University鈥檚 mission here.鈥�
The renovation and furnishing were funded by AT&T, which is allowing 91吃瓜 to use the facility. 91吃瓜 California staff members Flynn, Kaci Kelly, talent and employer relations specialist, and Jessica Rizzo, regional director of development, will use this space as their home office in the state. In addition to classroom offerings, the Palo Alto facility will host individuals and groups of visitors from the South Bend campus, meetings of the 91吃瓜 California Advisory Board, groups of students visiting from South Bend and other events.
At a future date, the Palo Alto facility will be formally dedicated with a 91吃瓜 leadership delegation in attendance along with 91吃瓜 California staff, advisory board members and representatives from AT&T.