Valdosta State University Psychology and Counseling Department Head Dr. Bob Bauer, left, VSU interim Dean of Dewar College of Education Julie Lee, second from left, VSU senior psychology major and Student Government Association Vice President Derika Powers and VSU outgoing President Patrick J. Schloss cut the ribbon opening the new Psychology and Counseling Building Thursday morning on VSU's main campus across from Nevins Hall.

Valdosta State University hosted a ribbon cutting for the new Psychology and Counseling Building on Thursday.

Psychology Department Chair Dr. Bob Bauer spoke to the crowd on the main campus on the historic achievement the building will add to the students and faculty.

“Today is a historic day. The dedication of a new academic building is exciting,” said Bauer.

Bauer began to tell the crowd the history behind the building and how it was determined to be rebuilt.

Funded through the university’s strategic focus initiative, construction on the $5 million, 33,000-square-foot facility took place in August 2010.

The new building is located in the Pedestrian Mall area, directly behind Nevins Hall. The three-story building includes classrooms, laboratories, clinical space, and administrative offices for the Psychology and Counseling Department.

The department was formerly housed in a building on the corner of Gordon and Patterson streets in a facility connected to the Georgia Power building, a half a mile from VSU’s main campus.

Students spent roughly an hour a day commuting to and from campus to attend classes in the building.

“This new building has new classroom sizes, data collection rooms and a clinic. There will be more interaction between teachers and students,” added Bauer.

Bauer says that the new building will give both undergraduates and graduates an opportunity to expand their academic opportunities.

“The opportunity for research will grow. Opportunities to train students in clinical counseling and education specialist degrees will expand,” added Bauer.

Bauer said that the opportunities will impact programs, students and faculty. VSU President Patrick Schloss then spoke to the crowd about the team that made the building possible.

“It is truly a great team; this building is fully funded by a faculty committee,” said Schloss.

Schloss added that every student in the Psychology and Counseling Department will have various options of learning.

“This is something I am very proud of,” concluded Schloss.

Schloss, Derika Powers, a senior Psychology student, Dr. Julie Lee, interim dean for the Dewar College of Education, and Bauer proceeded to cut the ribbon together to give a tour of the new building.