McCormick Center Reimagined: A Hub for Hands-On Learning and Workforce Readiness

CU–Bloomsburg celebrated the dedication of the newly reimagined McCormick Center on Monday, Sept. 8. Students, faculty, alumni, donors, and community members gathered to highlight the building’s transformation into a dynamic space that enhances learning and professional preparation.

“With this transformation of the McCormick Center, we are not just adding classrooms—we are shaping leaders,” said CU Interim President Dr. Jeffery L. Osgood. “We are not just constructing walls—we are building opportunity. We are not just honoring the past—we are preparing the future.”

With this renovation, the building now features cutting-edge nursing simulation labs, modern media and journalism spaces, enhanced early childhood education resources, and a center for pre-law preparation. 

The McCormick Center is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Whether it’s future nurses refining their clinical judgment, educators practicing innovative teaching methods, or business students solving real-world case studies, the reimagined McCormick Center ensures every graduate leaves Bloomsburg not only educated, but ready.

Student Trustee and nursing major Jessica Dodge spoke to the significance of the facility from the student perspective. “To walk into this building and see the incredible labs, classrooms, and technology—it feels like a vote of confidence in us,” she said. “It tells us that our university and its supporters believe in what we’re capable of becoming.”

Provost Michelle Kiec emphasized the impact on faculty and staff, noting how new technologies and modernized spaces allow educators to bring their teaching to life.

Dr. James McCormick—former Bloomsburg President and former PASSHE Chancellor, for whom the building is named—reflected on its evolution: “When we first opened this building back in 1973, it was envisioned as a home for nursing and teaching. To see how far it has come—with programs and technology beyond what we imagined—is truly inspiring.”
The dedication also highlighted the role of philanthropy in making the vision possible. 

Through The Campaign for Bloomsburg: It Starts With Us, donors have contributed more than $14.1 million in gifts and pledges toward transforming student learning experiences, including the innovations within McCormick. Campaign Co-Chair Steve Jones underscored how the campaign’s pillars—Attract, Elevate, and Prepare—are embodied in this project.

Vice President for University Advancement Erik Evans added, “State funding builds the walls, floors, ceilings—even the curtains. But what makes this space exceptional—the labs, the technology, the simulation equipment, the classrooms—comes from the generosity of our donors. You have given our students not just tools, but confidence.”

The event concluded with the announcement of an additional gift to support the McCormick Family’s legacy, further ensuring that future generations of students benefit from these cutting-edge spaces. Following the program, guests toured the facilities and experienced student and faculty demonstrations of the building’s new technologies.

The McCormick Center renovation is a milestone for CU–Bloomsburg and a symbol of its ongoing mission: preparing students to succeed in the workforce through hands-on, applied learning opportunities.