The Gatepost Editorial Board
Framingham State is a campus with a long-standing history. As a community, we are celebrating our institution’s 175th anniversary – remembering the school’s significant accomplishments and tradition of excellence since its opening in 1839.
The campus has many historic buildings, including Crocker Hall, which was built in 1886, and Peirce Hall, which was built in 1917. These buildings have quintessential New England character – each creak in their floorboards tells a story about our school’s rich history.
One of Framingham State’s newest additions is the Jonathan Maynard Building. It was built in 1915, and although it is an old historic building, new 21st century thinking is taking place within its walls.
The building was leased to FSU beginning in May 2012, and the school celebrated the official opening of Framingham’s Jonathan Maynard Building as the University’s newest Community Education Center in October 2012.
More recently, the historic Maynard Building has become the home of the new Innovation Center, a program which allows local entrepreneurs to build their businesses with the help of FSU student interns.
We at The Gatepost think it’s commendable that Framingham State is working not only to provide more opportunities for students in an innovative and rewarding business environment, but is also maintaining an important building in the process.
FSU’s Community Education Center, through the Office of Continuing Education, provides expanded English Language Programs to help FSU students and surrounding community members who want to become more proficient in English. Now, in addition to this valuable service, FSU is further strengthening its ties with the Maynard Building by allowing its students to work with business professionals to gain experience in entrepreneurship.
Conveniently located about a five-minute walk from campus, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, located in the Jonathan Maynard Building, expands opportunities for a handful of outside community entrepreneurs and their small businesses. For a small monthly fee, they are able receive assistance from student interns, FSU faculty, gain access to an actual workspace and network with other companies.
Students who are interested in business and entrepreneurship have the chance to intern at the building’s Innovation Center through the new entrepreneurship minor now being offered at Framingham State.
According to Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Robert Krim, the space is unique because it is connects students, faculty and the community. Students who are unable to work in the center have the opportunity to take a course offered through the minor in which they can learn from the business owners who utilize the center.
Framingham State’s history in innovation led to Krim’s excitement about the opportunity to run the center and teach entrepreneurship classes.
We at The Gatepost think this new minor is a notable addition to FSU’s academic programs and will strengthen the school’s already robust business major.
It is also important that while affording more opportunities to students, Framingham State is helping preserve a local building that has been a distinct part of the landscape of Framingham Center since 1915.
As the oldest teaching school in America, Framingham State is an institution that welcomes change but also embraces tradition. In the case of the Innovation Center, it appears FSU has done both.