Schools, departments fight for use of Vance Hall

The Education and Social Work schools, along with the Political Science Department, are competing for the site. As planning continues for the new Wharton classroom building -- to be located on the current Book Store site -- administrators are evaluating which schools or departments might receive use of Vance Hall following construction of the new building. The schools of Social Work and Education and the Political Science Department are among those that may be considered for the space -- which would likely become available within the next three to four years, according to Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina. University President Judith Rodin explained that the new Wharton building -- which will house Wharton's MBA program and several undergraduate activities -- is intended to serve "as a replacement for Vance Hall," thus reducing Wharton's need for the space within the graduate school building. Administrators are currently conducting feasibility studies on Vance to determine if it could meet the needs of the schools and departments which have expressed interest in additional space. "[Vance] may serve some of our other schools' needs very well, schools that may not be able to afford to build their own building," Rodin said. The needs of the Education and Social Work schools are "pressing and being served first," she added. Consultants have met with representatives from the School of Social Work to analyze its space needs, and Social Work Dean Ira Schwartz said that the school is continuing its discussions with administrators. The school is "bursting at the seams" in its current location at 37th and Locust streets, Schwartz said. Schwartz praised the University's commitment to improving the school's facilities. "We certainly do not feel that we're neglected," he said. "They are really behind us having the right kinds of facilities." Although the Graduate School of Education also needs improved facilities, Gravina said administrators "do not believe" that the school would fit in Vance Hall "mainly because of the size of the program." "But we're not saying no to that either," he said. Education Dean Susan Fuhrman was unavailable for comment this week, but had said earlier in the semester that the school is "pleased at the University's recognition of our need for more space." "We're still as anxious and concerned and interested as ever," Fuhrman said. "We're looking forward to seeing where things go." And although the Political Science Department would "definitely" fit in the building, Gravina said he questions whether Vance Hall is an "appropriate location" for the department. Political Science Chairperson Thomas Callaghy said University officials conducted a study of the department's needs last fall. But he would not confirm that the possibility of the department receiving use of the Vance space had been raised with University administrators involved in discussion about Vance's future. Gravina stressed that planning for Vance is in preliminary stages. Before a decision can be made, he said that Wharton's final plans for relocation must be completed -- a process which will take approximately one year. And Wharton Associate Dean Scott Douglass explained that it is premature to speculate about what will happen with Vance before planning and design for the new building have been completed.