University of Dubuque announces new undergraduate program and Chlapaty Center for Innovation

The University of Dubuque has launched the Momentum Campaign, a three-year effort to raise $150 million to support future generations of Spartans. The campaign aims to provide resources, facilities and opportunities to help students pursue lives of purpose and service. On Thursday, the university announced a $35 million legacy gift from Joseph and Linda Chlapaty. The donation will fund the Chlapaty Center for Innovation, a state-of-the-art complex featuring engineering labs, collaborative makerspaces, innovation arenas and flexible learning environments. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the approximately 75,000-square-foot, five-story building was held Thursday near Smith Hall, where the center will be located. The university also announced the development of a new engineering program—the first undergraduate degree program introduced at the university in nearly 10 years. Earlier this semester, faculty voted to approve the development of the program. Approval from faculty and the Board of Trustees is expected next year, with plans to launch the engineering major in fall 2027.