Judson University to move Rockford campus to new classrooms at YMCA
During a news conference Feb. 3 at the I.D. Pennock Family YMCA in Rockford, Judson University announced that it will partner with the YMCA of Rock River Valley to relocate its Rockford campus.
Currently housed at 1055 Featherstone Drive, Judson's Rockford campus will move into the Rockford Y's flagship location, the I.D. Pennock Family YMCA, 200 Y Boulevard, which is situated along 15 acres of Rock River riverfront in downtown Rockford. Construction for the new space is set to begin this spring, and classes will launch there in the fall.
Classes will remain at the Featherstone location through July. Classes will be offered in the new location in August.
"We are honored to partner with the YMCA in their mission. This partnership will make both organizations stronger and serve our Rockford students better in every way," says Dr. David Cook, dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies. "Our students will benefit from access to free child care when they are in class as well as an outstanding facility to maintain their physical fitness."
Judson University will occupy 10,000 square feet of space on the third floor and portions of the second floor of the beautiful YMCA facility. The new classrooms will offer Y members an opportunity to take evening college courses in the School of Business and Professional Studies, which offers adult undergraduate degrees in Organizational Leadership, Business Administration (with optional concentrations in Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management or Leadership), Human Services and Applied Psychology as well as an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. Additionally, the Y will have access to the state-of-the art classrooms during the day to run its programs and educational initiatives.
Additionally, Judson University has committed to awarding a two-year scholarship each year to a YMCA member who is pursuing a bachelor's or associate degree. Details on the application will be released soon.
There are innumerable ways that Judson adult students will benefit from having their classrooms inside the beautiful Y facility, too, among them being access to free child care during class time, complimentary use of the fitness facilities and an on-site Subway sandwich restaurant.
In fact, the partnership with the YMCA allows Judson to be a part of a larger vision to establish a destination point for students in downtown Rockford, where they can cultivate healthy minds, bodies and spirits.
"Our vision is to create a place where members, students and residents can go to become a stronger version of themselves - whether it's through fitness, education or family time, and we believe Judson University is the perfect partner to help us achieve this goal," said Mike Brown, CEO, YMCA of Rock River Valley. "It allows both organizations to expand offerings, which is a win for YMCA members and Judson students."
The I.D. Pennock Family YMCA has been a riverfront destination since it opened in 1964, and with its more than 160,000 square feet of building space on three floors, it is said to be the seventh largest YMCA facility in the United States.