Albertus Magnus College

Press Release

New Haven, Conn. — September 23, 2026

Albertus Magnus College today held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 Immersive Learning Collaboratory, the first facility in New England to house the Dreamscape Learn immersive virtual reality (VR) learning platform. The Collaboratory was made possible through a historic $3 million gift from alumna Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 and her husband, James.

The Collaboratory is located in a newly renovated wing of the Hubert Campus Center and houses a Dreamscape Learn immersive VR classroom, a VR free roam pod, and the College’s Esports program. VR-enabled integrated coursework begins this fall in biology, chemistry, political science, art history, and other liberal arts disciplines.

As new content is developed, Albertus intends to provide VR experiences for students across all academic disciplines. In its first year, Albertus expects more than half of its undergraduate students, including the entire first-year class, to participate in courses that integrate Dreamscape Learn.

"The opening of the Ditkoff Collaboratory launches Albertus boldly into its second century. This innovative learning environment represents our commitment to meeting students where they are, providing them with new opportunities to explore, collaborate, and apply what they are learning in meaningful ways. We are grateful to Carol and Jim Ditkoff for their impactful generosity, and in a special way for their commitment to providing Albertus students with an exceptional education. Their investment is helping Albertus continue to build on a tradition of innovation and inspiring students to be prepared and purpose-driven leaders upon graduation." — President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D.

The Collaboratory marks a milestone for both institutions. The Ditkoffs’ gift is the largest outright gift in the College’s 100-year history, and is the first Dreamscape Learn deployment funded entirely through private philanthropy.

"Jim and I made this gift because we believe every Albertus student deserves the opportunity to learn in new and exciting ways. Our hope is that students will design and test their own ideas here, building the confidence to see new possibilities. Knowing the Collaboratory will shape how students learn, is deeply meaningful to both of us." — Carol Gutoski Ditkoff ’67

Co-founded by filmmaker Walter Parkes and Arizona State University President Michael Crow, Dreamscape Learn combines immersive technology, cinematic storytelling, and evidence-based pedagogy to deliver rigorous, story-driven learning across core disciplines.

"When students are transported into a story and given a meaningful role to play, learning feels different. They become more invested in the work, more motivated to keep going, and more connected to what they are learning. We’re excited to see Albertus embrace immersive learning across disciplines, with dedicated leadership in place to help faculty make these experiences a meaningful part of the student experience." — Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn

Since launching in 2022 in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), Dreamscape Learn’s immersive 'Biology in the Alien Zoo' course has been used in introductory biology classes reaching more than 28,000 ASU students. Research at ASU found that students performed better in courses that integrated this new approach to teaching and learning—with participants nearly two times more likely to achieve an A grade. This success has led ASU to fully transition its introductory biology labs to the Dreamscape Learn platform.

About Dreamscape Learn

Co-founded by filmmaker Walter Parkes and Arizona State University President Michael Crow, Dreamscape Learn combines immersive technology, cinematic storytelling, and evidence-based pedagogy to deliver rigorous, story-driven learning across core disciplines. Dreamscape Learn redefines how we teach and learn in the 21st century, while aiming to eliminate student learning gaps. Learn more at DreamscapeLearn.com.

About Albertus Magnus College

Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus’ values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For ten consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or entered graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College enrolls approximately 1,400 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate programs. Albertus Magnus College takes pride in a student body where nearly half of undergraduates are first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients. The College is recognized for its innovative curricula, featuring programs in General Health Sciences and Public Health, as well as its newest offerings: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Connecticut’s first LPN-to-BSN program. Among its distinctive graduate offerings are Masters in Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, MBA, and the State of Connecticut’s only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program.

As it begins a second century, Albertus is implementing a new strategic plan, The Centennial Plan: Crossing the Bridge to a Second Century, that advances its bold vision as a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking Catholic institution in the Dominican tradition. Grounded in the liberal arts and the Dominican Pillars of Study, Prayer, Community, and Service, the College prepares students to think critically, lead ethically, and thrive through innovative, immersive learning experiences that empower them to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.