March 26 , 2012
TD Bank Group donates $700K to provide greater accessibility to library, enhance learning for business students
Hamilton, Ont. March 26, 2012—McMaster University announced today a gift of $700,000 from TD Bank Group to help students with disabilities better access the full services of the University libraries and to create a dynamic learning space for business students at its newest campus, the Ron Joyce Centre.
Part of the gift will help fund a staff position—named the TD Coordinator for Library Accessibility Services—to offer support services in research, to help manage the hardware and software students with disabilities use to access information, and to provide study and consultation rooms that use adaptive technology, among other functions.
“TD is proud to be partnering with McMaster University to create a dynamic learning space for students with disabilities so that they may have full access to the services of the University libraries”, said Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group.
The TD Coordinator for Library Accessibility is based at Mills Library, which is the largest library on campus, with more than 1.3 million visits by patrons each year.
Mills Library has undergone a major transformation in recent years, becoming a hub for collaborative learning in a high tech environment that enables skill development, research and new avenues of learning.
“We are deeply grateful to TD Bank Group for helping us provide our students with the resources that they need to succeed”, says Patrick Deane, president of McMaster. “It is imperative that we provide the infrastructure needed to support all our students, so that they may have an exceptional education.”
The second component of the gift is the TD Learning Commons, which is located on the first floor at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington. There, students from the DeGroote School of Business’ MBA and executive education programs have full access to an open, airy space that enhances their academic experience.
The Ron Joyce Centre opened in 2010 and by next year is expected to be serving 700 to 800 students.
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 156,000 alumni in 140 countries.
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For more information, please contact:
Michelle Donovan
Public Relations Manager
McMaster University
905-525-9140 ext. 22869
Wade Hemsworth
Public Relations Manager
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext. 27988
Runa Whitaker
Manager, Corporate and Public Affairs
TD Bank Group
416.982.3375