The United Methodist Church (UMC) recently approved a Black College Fund grant totaling $300,000 to Clark Atlanta University (CAU) to support infrastructural improvements to McPheeters-Dennis Hall. The historic building houses several academic departments, including Mathematics, Physics, African-American Studies and History, and was named in honor of deceased CAU educators Dr. Alphonso A. McPheeters, a former dean of Clark College, and Dr. Joseph J. Dennis.
The grant money was used to replace the original roof – which was more than 50 years old – with a new TPO LEED compliant roof. The funding was awarded in June, and the project was completed in August.
“We are proud to be involved with efforts to improve the environment in which students are being trained to learn and grow,” said Dr. Cynthia Bond-Hopson, assistant general secretary of the UMC’s Black College Fund & Ethnic Concerns.
“A highly functional building is an essential part of the educational process to ensure that Clark Atlanta University students benefit from a vibrant and modern setting conducive for strong engagement between students and professors.”
CAU has also embarked on a multi-year renovation project to upgrade the physical and aesthetic space at McPheeters-Dennis Hall and improve the technology and equipment used in the classrooms and laboratories. The renovations include state-of-the-art technological enhancements, 100 percent mechanical and electrical systems replacement and upgrades.
This year, the United Methodist Church has given almost $1.3 million to Clark Atlanta University through its support of CAU’s annual fund, student scholarships, building and grounds improvements, and the university’s Graduate Studies program. The historic relationship between UMC and CAU goes back to the founding of Clark College in 1869. Clark College and Atlanta University consolidated to form Clark Atlanta University in 1988.