Room to Grow

Lander University announces plans for acquisition of Greenwood District 50’s Genesis Education Center property, providing flexible space to support record growth and expanded student opportunities.

For the past decade, Lander University has done something few higher education institutions can claim: It has continued to grow, year after year.

That momentum – fueled by seven consecutive years of record enrollment – has brought exciting opportunities, from new academic programs and expanded student services, to ambitious campus improvements. With success, however, comes the challenge of finding room for what comes next.

Today, the University is taking a major step toward addressing that challenge.

Lander officials have announced plans for The Lander Foundation to purchase Greenwood School District 50’s Genesis Education Center, transforming the nearby 21.9-acre property on Glenwood Street into multipurpose space that will immediately expand Lander’s campus footprint, while creating new opportunities for academics, student life and athletics for years to come. The announcement follows Monday’s vote by the District 50 Board of Trustees to authorize Superintendent Shane Goodwin’s office to sign the purchase agreement with The Lander Foundation and execute all necessary steps for the sale, subject to meeting certain county and state requirements.

“As Lander continues to experience record enrollment and a growing demand for our programs, this additional space will provide much-needed breathing room across the entire University,” said Lander President Richard Cosentino. “Because the buildings and grounds were designed for education and are still in excellent condition, it means we can put the former middle school to use quickly once the sale is finalized. It’s a rare opportunity to meet today’s needs while positioning the University for the next era.”   

Located within walking distance just north of the University’s main campus, the Genesis Center features 70,000 square feet of instructional and administrative space. Once the location of Northside Middle School, the campus includes a large, multi-wing educational facility with classrooms, labs, offices and conference rooms; a full-sized gymnasium with hardwood court, stage, bleachers and lockers; ancillary buildings, including a cafeteria; and spacious athletic fields.

The property, which will be leased to the University through the Foundation, will expand Lander’s acreage by about 12 percent, said Steve Bolton, chair of The Lander Foundation.

“When this opportunity arose, the Foundation recognized its potential to immediately support the University’s mission and continued growth,” Bolton said. “The location is ideal, being easy for students to reach using sidewalks the entire way, and it only needs minor updates to be ready for the University’s use later this year. Because of that, Lander can quickly dedicate more of the main campus to academic and student-centered purposes.”

While specific plans are still being finalized, administrative departments that don’t require daily interaction with students could potentially relocate to the former middle school, freeing up valuable space for more classrooms, labs and student services on campus, where they’re needed most. It would also create opportunities to bring together academic departments that are currently spread across multiple buildings, strengthening collaboration and creating a more connected experience for students and faculty. Additionally, with its proximity to the University’s campus, the northside property will be a convenient location for student organization meetings, evening and extension courses, and special-purpose spaces like studios and innovation labs.

As a long-term investment in student life, the property’s full-sized gymnasium and athletic fields will dramatically expand opportunities for varsity practices, intramural sports, recreation and campus events. Along with providing dedicated practice space for multiple Bearcat teams, the additional facilities – including a regulation-size football field and another field capable of a 100-yard layout – will help support Lander’s future plans for sports and alleviate pressure on current athletic and recreation facilities. The gym and ancillary spaces can also serve as a flexible venue for large-scale campus events, from career fairs and concerts, to Homecoming activities and community gatherings.

“These new opportunities enrich the general student experience at Lander by allowing more students to participate and get involved,” said Joe Greenthal, vice president for finance and administration. “That in turn has a positive impact on student wellness, retention and success.”

The new northside property arrives at an ideal moment, as Lander embarks on major capital projects including the construction of a new Library Information Commons and future renovations of existing academic buildings. Rather than disrupting instruction to complete renovations, Greenthal said the expansion will provide immediate “surge space” for offices, classrooms and services displaced during construction. This will allow improvements to move forward more efficiently, he added, while maintaining instruction and support for students.

Just as important in this expansion is the partnership between Lander and Greenwood District 50. In 2024, the District relocated its alternative school programs from the Genesis campus to another site. Today, its adult education, instructional services and child nutrition programming are housed at the center, and those programs will continue operating there for up to 24 months.  

“Lander and District 50 will work together to ensure continuity for our adult learners while we transition ownership of the facility to the University, and the District gradually phases operations to a new location,” District 50 Superintendent Goodwin said. “We are proud to partner with Lander in a way that keeps this space dedicated to education, and to creating new opportunities for students throughout our community.”

Greenthal echoed this, adding, “Lander has a longstanding, strong partnership with District 50, and we will stay in close collaboration to ensure the District still has opportunities to leverage the university-owned space for K-12 initiatives and events in the future.” One such possibility is using the northside property for expanded dual enrollment offerings, providing advanced academic opportunities without overcrowding local high school campuses.

As Lander looks ahead, the new northside property provides something increasingly difficult to find: space not simply to grow, but to grow with purpose.

“Lander is growing because more students are choosing us, because they believe in our mission and the opportunities we provide,” President Cosentino said. “This addition to our campus footprint is about more than adding buildings and acreage. It is an investment that ensures we have the space to continue delivering the exceptional educational experience that defines Lander University.”