--- title: "Edward Waters University to build first new dorm since 1982" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-13T13:05:12.775Z" source_reported: "2026-10-12T21:22:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-13T13:45:08.806Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 45 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-13T14:00:11.116069+00:00" --- # Edward Waters University to build first new dorm since 1982 *Financing secured for new student housing and athletic facilities at historically Black university.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report, while 15 others provided digests of the same story. - Craft 45 of 100, higher is better. The full report provided details on financing, university growth, and community impact. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used in headlines and digests is factual and avoids sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Edward Waters University will build its first on-campus dormitory since 1982. - The project is financed by $25 million from the Rice Capital Access Program. - Total capital improvements at the university will reach $33 million. - The new dormitory is scheduled to open in Fall 2028. Edward Waters University, Florida's oldest historically Black university, has announced plans to construct its first on-campus dormitory since 1982. The university secured $25 million in financing from the Rice Capital Access Program to support the project. This funding is part of a larger $33 million investment in capital improvements for the Jacksonville campus. In addition to the dormitory, the university will also see the development of a track and field facility. The city of Jacksonville has allocated $2 million towards this facility, which is intended for use by both students and the local community. The new dormitory is anticipated to be ready for students in the Fall 2028 semester. ## Coverage comparison Reports from the left-rated outlets focused on the historical significance of the dormitory construction and the role of financing in enabling growth at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). These reports highlighted the $25 million in financing from the Rice Financial Products Co. and mentioned the total capital improvements of $33 million. Several outlets quoted Edward Waters University President and CEO A. Zachary Faison on the need for additional beds to grow the traditional student population and his excitement about HBCU growth. The Philadelphia Tribune, The Toronto Star, The Independent, Associated Press News, The Independent (US), The Hamilton Spectator, The Record, St Catharines Standard, NiagaraFallsReview.ca, and Winnipeg Free Press all noted the financing and the dormitory's status as the first in four decades. Centre-rated reports also detailed the financing and the scope of the capital improvements. Washington Top News, in its full report, included statements from President Faison about the university's growth and quoted William Fisher of Rice Capital Access Program on Edward Waters' financial responsibility. This report also mentioned the city of Jacksonville's $2 million allocation for a track and field facility and noted the dormitory's expected opening in Fall 2028. Newsday, The Northern Virginia Daily, Daily News-Record, and Winnipeg Free Press digests also carried details about the financing and capital improvements. The right-rated reports from Jonesboro Sun and The Batesville Daily Guard digests mentioned that Florida's oldest historically Black university will build its first dormitory in four decades. These digests also noted the financing from Rice Financial Products Co. and the $33 million in capital improvements at the university. They also stated that the city allocated funds for a track and field facility. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific opening date of Fall 2028 for the new dormitory, a detail present in the centre-rated reports. The right-rated digests also do not include direct quotes from university officials or the financing company, unlike the centre-rated full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 56% (9) - Centre: 31% (5) - Right: 13% (2) 0 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-13T14:00:11.116069+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 3 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-13T15:00:10.176Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated outlets reported that Florida's oldest historically Black university will construct its first new dormitory since 1982. The digests stated this development follows financing secured through Rice Financial Products Co. - These reports focused on the university's announcement of plans for the new building. The digests did not include details on the cost of the project or the capacity of the new dormitory. ### Centre - The centre-rated outlets reported that Edward Waters University will construct its first new dormitory since 1982. They stated that financing from Rice Financial Products Co. will fund part of the $33 million in capital improvements planned for the Jacksonville campus. - Washington Top News reported that the new dormitory is expected to open in Fall 2028. This outlet also noted that the university has seen 37% enrollment growth since 2019. - Washington Top News included comments from university president A. Zachary Faison, Rice Capital Access Program CEO William Fisher, and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. The report also quoted students Taryn Sanders, Jakyla Grant, and Dejah Lewis, and city council member Rahman Johnson. ### Right - Both the Jonesboro Sun and The Batesville Daily Guard reported that Edward Waters University will construct its first new dormitory since 1982. The university is Florida's oldest historically Black institution. - The digests stated that Rice Financial Products Co. is providing financing for capital improvements. These improvements include the new dormitory, which is part of a $33 million project. - Neither digest mentioned the specific name of the dormitory or quoted any university officials or students. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 7 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Philadelphia Tribune](https://phillytrib.com/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_573ed753-142b-4afc-8ec8-e9c6bf8874c5.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_76fa4335-a8bd-580a-8e3c-c14f040cfb2c.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 – WTOP News - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/edward-waters-hbcu-growth-oncampus-housing-x85798) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/president-florida-united-states-tuskegee-hampton-b3065499.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/edward-waters-hbcu-growth-oncampus-housing-b61d764261407627ed165fb97609d86d) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/president-florida-united-states-tuskegee-hampton-b3065499.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_fc56cd29-7aa5-55b5-af71-037eb1c723f3.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/national/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_d0302475-9998-5e99-8413-d110c756e1a8.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [Daily News-Record](https://dnronline.com/associated_press/national/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_f5715145-be40-5788-9c13-8f9cdbbbdfa3.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Batesville Daily Guard](https://guardonline.com/news/national/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_1b3bc1d2-e069-5111-9f3f-daf759cf37ce.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_8c12a498-98bf-5ec2-9015-4e6723804e64.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_9c0d895c-e822-5893-bd0e-0adeffbd4b04.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/united-states/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_ec772a47-58cd-599d-bd01-ac9a76c6b37b.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/news/world/united-states/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982/article_1bc80aeb-fe3d-5eff-ae75-0f0278c65686.html) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/12/edward-waters-announces-it-will-build-first-on-campus-dorm-since-1982) — Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982 ## Questions **When will the new dormitory at Edward Waters University open?** The new dormitory at Edward Waters University is expected to open in the Fall 2028 semester. This marks the university's first on-campus housing construction in over 40 years. **How much financing has been secured for the new dormitory?** The university has secured $25 million in financing from the Rice Capital Access Program specifically for the dormitory project. This is part of a larger $33 million in capital improvements. **What other facilities are being built at Edward Waters University?** In addition to the new dormitory, Edward Waters University is also building a track and field facility. The city of Jacksonville has contributed $2 million towards the construction of this athletic facility. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Edward Waters University to build first new dorm since 1982", https://mediabias.news/politics/edward-waters-university-to-build-first-new-dorm-since-1982