Mandeville, Jamaica…[Northern Caribbean University/IAD]
Northern Caribbean University (NCU), operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the West Indies, will soon see a 6-million dollar expansion to its campus. With the largest enrollment of any Adventist institution in the world, NCU is set to begin a range of developments at its main Mandeville, Jamaica, campus, beginning with the construction of an Agri Research and Entrepreneural center, new student apartments and a Diabetes Wellness Center.
The projects were outlined by NCU President Dr. Herbert Thompson on August 21, 2006, at the institution's colloquium exercise, which signaled the official start of the new school year.
The Agri Research Center will house a bakery, a hospitality center, a career services center and a bank. It will also have testing laboratories and incubators where scientists can work with local farmers on techniques to yield better and more numerous crops.
“We will also help them fight pests, using the proper technology,” said Dr. Thompson.
The center will be situated on a 35,000 square ft. property, just across the road from the main campus.
Dr. Thompson said the National Housing Trust (NHT) has also approved another large loan to build 150 apartments for students. The apartment complexes will be built just across from the university. Dr. Thompson said the apartments should house some 300 students, will be fully furnished and have security systems.
There are already one men's and two women's dormitories located on the 200-acre main campus, but the majority of the 5,600 students live off campus.
“We are not building anymore communal dorms,” Dr. Thompson said.
Construction is also to begin shortly on a $1 million (US) Diabetes Wellness Center, to be built courtesy of the Embassy of South Korea. The Center will provide testing and treatment for persons suffering from the disease.
Founded in 1919, Northern Caribbean University (formerly West Indies College) is the oldest private tertiary institution in Jamaica, offering dozens of bachelor's degrees, six masters programs and two doctorate programs.
For more information on Northern Caribbean University, visit www.ncu.edu.jm
