Endicott to open city 'campus'

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May 9, 2012

Endicott to open city 'campus'

By Steven Fletcher Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Wed May 09, 2012, 06:00 AM EDT

Endicott College of Beverly will open Gloucester's first academic campus on Commercial Street in September.

The college announced Tuesday that it will open a satellite campus in the Chamber of Commerce building at 33 Commercial.

College President Dr. Richard Wylie said Endicott will offer courses in marine science, biotechnology, the arts and hospitality, among others. Wylie said the college would like to see students come to Gloucester for an immersion program as well, and the satellite will partner with the elements within the community from Maritime Gloucester to the Chamber of Commerce.

"I'd like to see my life science and oceanographic students live in Gloucester for a year," Wylie said. "And art students come to paint and go out on Rocky Neck, and creative writing students to immerse themselves in the stories of the community."

From the city's perspective, Endicott's venture provides a missing link to the city's renaissance, Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Tuesday.

The partnership, she said, came into focus over the last few months. The November Maritime Summit, according to a summary provided by the city, also recommended finding a way to bring a college or university to Gloucester.

Endicott, Kirk said, is a good match. The school's approach, she said, aligns itself with the city's goals on innovation, and diversifying the city's economy. She said she'll assign an Endicott staff member to sit on the city's Maritime Economy Working group.

"(The college) will contribute to the vibrancy of our downtown and city as a whole," Kirk said.

Having Endicott set up in Gloucester also meshes with the mission of Maritime Gloucester, said Tom Balf, the Harbor Loop center's executive director.

The college, Balf said, will have access to the organization's labs for marine science and envisions having some of the school's education interns take part in teaching children about marine sciences.

"A higher education campus has a certain energy, a certain intellectual passion, and resources that it brings with it," said Balf. "It's a great partnership between real world issues and teaching of marine science with all the resources that a college brings."

Endicott President said the school's immersion focus, one of the project's primary goals, will let students dive deep into the city's culture and heritage, like immersion programs abroad. If students can't get immersed in their own cultures, Wylie said, they're losing part of the history that made the country great.

The satellite, he said, will integrate itself with the community as and collaborate with the city, and offer programs that could meet city needs. Gloucester, he added, provides a location for Endicott to do more with life sciences and oceanography.

Endicott will set up shop on 33 Commercial in June with the first program starting in September. The college has 4,000 square feet on Commercial street and pans to establish teaching and learning space for undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as in corporate education, workforce development, and community activities in the Gloucester area.

"We look forward to collaborating with Gloucester city officials, residents, and business leaders to provide educational leadership and innovative community activities on Cape Ann," Wylie said in a prepared statement. "I began my teaching career in this city (in Veterans in 1964) and have an enduring appreciation for Gloucester and its people."

Wylie said the project's been in the works for a while, but kicked up over the last few months with the help of Kirk, who spoke at Endicott a year ago.

He declined to say what the college has invested in the program. As far as student attendance for Gloucester, Wylie did not project specific student numbers, but said the college is looking to create options for students and has found that the interest is there, just not quantified.

Steven Fletcher may be contacted at 1-978-283-7000 x3455, or sfletcher@gloucestertimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevengdt.