Albertus Magnus College Invests in the Power of Cinematic Storytelling and Immersive Virtual Reality
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Albertus Magnus College Invests in the Power of Cinematic Storytelling and Immersive
Virtual Reality
Transformative $3M gift brings Dreamscape Learn to New Haven, marking a first for
New England institutions
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 21, 2026 –
Albertus Magnus College
today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Dreamscape Learn, a leader in immersive
education technology, to launch a new era of virtual reality (VR)-enabled learning
on its campus. Enabled by a historic $3 million gift from alumna Carol Gutoski Ditkoff
’67 and her husband James, the initiative will fully fund the implementation of Dreamscape
Learn’s pioneering platform—making Albertus the first college in New England to deploy
this cutting-edge technology on behalf of its students.
James Ditkoff & Carol G. Ditkoff '67
This landmark investment represents the largest outright gift in Albertus' 100-year
history and propels the College’s
Forever Albertus: The Centennial Campaign
past $34 million of its $40 million goal.
“A hundred years ago, Albertus was founded by Dominican Sisters via a spirit of innovation,
and as we enter a second century, Dreamscape Learn is the latest example of the College
fulfilling its mission through responding to the needs of its students,” said Albertus
President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D.  “This partnership represents an extraordinary, exciting
leap forward—through cutting edge, virtual reality immersive learning, we deepen our
commitment to providing each and every Albertus student with valuable experiential
learning opportunities. All of us at Albertus are profoundly grateful to Carol and
James Ditkoff for their affirmation of the value and impact of an Albertus education
and, so too, for their transformative gift that will impact generations of students
to come.”
In recognition of the Ditkoffs’ generosity, Albertus will name a newly renovated wing
of the Hubert Campus Center as the Carol G. Ditkoff ’67 Immersive Learning Collaboratory.
The space will house the Dreamscape Learn immersive classroom and free roam pod, along
with the College’s existing Esports lab. Construction will conclude this summer, with
VR-enabled coursework launching in Fall 2026 in courses like biology and expanding
into the liberal arts in subjects like art history.
“I believe education should have no limits,” said Carol Gutoski Ditkoff ’67. “When
we empower students to explore the farthest reaches of history, art, science and imagination—without
walls or boundaries—we keep them excited and engaged with learning. My husband and
I made this gift because we want every Albertus student to see not only what the world
is, but what it can be.”
Dreamscape Learn merges advanced pedagogy with immersive technology and the emotional
power of cinematic storytelling to transport students to extraordinary worlds where
they step into the role of scientists, explorers, and investigators. From investigating
alien ecosystems to solving complex biological problems, students engage in hands-on
learning in core disciplines that build critical thinking and transferable skills.
Early research from schools using Dreamscape Learn
shows
measurable results, with students nearly twice as likely to earn an A in biology
compared with their peers.
“If students are going to persist and succeed in rigorous courses that prepare them
for what comes next, curriculum needs to excite them and motivate them to do the work,”
said Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn. “By integrating cinematic, immersive learning
into core subjects, the College is recognizing that delivering truly engaging programming
is the first step toward students developing the critical thinking, problem-solving,
and collaboration skills they will need for success in school and career. As the first
institution in New England to adopt this approach, Albertus is setting a clear example
for institutions across the region.”
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 nine consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus
graduates have attained employment or gone on to graduate studies within six months
of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300
students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and
graduate program levels. Proud to enroll a student body where nearly half of its undergraduate
students receive Federal Pell Grants and are first-generation college goers, Albertus
is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor's
degree programs in Nursing, including BSN and Connecticut's first LPN-to-BSN; General
Health Sciences; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Public Health.
Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in
Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a
Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic
100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the
Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to "be a destination liberal
arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach
to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic
engagement and success." To learn more, please visit albertus.edu.
About Dreamscape Learn
Dreamscape Learn is a collaborative venture between Dreamscape Immersive and Arizona
State University, merging the most advanced pedagogy with the entertainment industry's
best emotional storytelling. Dreamscape Learn redefines how we teach and learn in
the 21st century, while aiming to eliminate student learning gaps.
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. This success has led ASU to
fully transition its introductory biology labs to the Dreamscape Learn platform.
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 gone on to graduate studies within six months
of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300
students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and
graduate program levels. Proud to enroll a student body where nearly half of its undergraduate
students receive Federal Pell Grants and are first-generation college goers, Albertus
is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor's
degree programs in Nursing, including BSN and Connecticut's first LPN-to-BSN; General
Health Sciences; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Public Health.
Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in
Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a
Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic
100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the
Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to "be a destination liberal
arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach
to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic
engagement and success." To learn more, please visit
albertus.edu
Degrees
Dominican & College Traditions
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Contact
Andrea Kovacs
Vice President for Marketing & Community Relations
media@albertus.edu
(203) 773-0129
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700 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
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