UNC to Add Campus in East Loveland's Centerra

November 14, 2008 Posted In

Centerra is bringing a second university to its retail, residential and office complex.
The University of Northern Colorado will join Colorado Christian University, which opened its Northern Colorado campus at Centerra in 2005.
UNC-Greeley is finalizing a contract with Centerra to lease 12,000 square feet in the Rangeview III building, 2915 Rocky Mountain Ave.
Starting in January, UNC will offer evening and weekend classes in nursing and teacher education, providing both degree and professional development programs.
UNC chose Centerra for the central location it provides in Northern Colorado.
“It’s a convenient spot on the I-25 corridor,” said Nate Haas, UNC spokesman.
The arrangement benefits Centerra as well.
“It’s another amenity to round out our master-planned community,” said Ron Kuehl, vice president of real estate at McWhinney Enterprises. “With our highly educated work force, it helps us attract companies from all around the region and the U.S.”
The UNC satellite campus will include five classrooms, a computer lab, a conference room and a lounge area, which will be on the first floor of the Rangeview building. Each of the classrooms will have a capacity of 30 students, for a total of 150 at a time.
“The opportunity was there to gather all of our offerings in one location that is easily accessible,” said Abe Harraf, UNC provost. “It’s a visible place that people can identify, as opposed to being in three or four different locations.”
UNC will finish out the teacher education programs it currently offers at the Budweiser Events Center and in Longmont and elsewhere in Loveland, Harraf said, adding that the ending times for the cohort programs will vary.
UNC also offers extended studies programs at revolving sites, based on student demand, in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Durango, Gunnison and Sterling, Harraf said. It also leases space for UNC Denver at Lowry, he said.
“It definitely will give us more visibility because we now have a place we can call UNC’s place,” Harraf said.