(Posted January 28, 2002)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College President Thomas R. Kepple will host a public forum titled "The Future of Alfarata School" on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Dubois Business College gymnasium.

The Juniata president will present the college's plans for purchasing the former elementary school located at 14th and Moore streets in Huntingdon, several blocks from the Juniata campus. Kepple will discuss the new business incubator the college is planning, as well as use of the facility in several years as a student residence hall.

Joining Kepple to answer questions and address public concerns will be staff members representing the offices of student services, residence life, advancement and marketing, and campus security.

"We want to work with members of the community to be certain that we can make this a winning proposition for all involved," according to Kepple. "The incubator has great potential for economic development in the Huntingdon region and the additional use of the facility as a residence hall would accommodate the college's planned growth."

Kepple added, "We realize that our plans for Alfarata may cause some anxiety, especially for our neighbors surrounding the former school building. Through the public forum, we want people to fully understand our plans and to work with us to address any concerns. We will be good neighbors and we want to take a facility that may have no future and put it to good use for everyone's benefit."

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.