PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia University is creating a new College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, and will construct a new building to house it.

University President Stephen Spinelli Jr. says the college will offer a "transdisciplinary" curriculum and emphasize collaboration among the three fields.

The college will begin operating in fall 2011. Eventually, it will be housed in a 39,000-square-foot building that university officials expect to break ground on this spring.

In making the announcement Friday, Spinelli also named the executive dean of the new college: Ronald Kander, director of the engineering school at James Madison University.

Philadelphia University serves about 3,500 students in the East Falls section of the city.

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