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The Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees approved a design plan, financing mechanism and construction project budget for ATU’s proposed new 94,802-square-foot Student Union and Recreation Center in Russellville at its Thursday, Aug. 18, meeting in Chambers Cafeteria West. dining room.
“Arkansas Tech University boldly announced the construction of a new recreation center and student union and a connecting plaza at the intersection of campus,” ATU Vice President of Administration and Finance Laurie Fiorello wrote in a memo to trustees on Thursday. “This is a central space intended to be the center of student life and a landmark building for the university. Here is an opportunity to create an unforgettable space on campus for student safety, belonging, collaboration, gathering and outdoor recreation.”
The new facility will be built on land occupied by the WO Young building, which will be demolished starting in September.
The ATU Student Union and Recreation Center includes a campus lounge/lounge, individual and group fitness activities, two basketball courts, outdoor recreation, a cafe, multi-scale events, student organizations, food service, and a convenience store/spirit shop. , a multi-purpose court and multi-purpose meeting rooms.
Miller Bosques of Fayetteville was selected as the lead architect by ATU trustees in developing plans for the 2019 Student Union and Recreation Center. Employees from the Dallas, Texas, location of The Smith Group helped plan the facility.
“Arkansas Tech University’s design team and representatives worked together to develop the program,” Fiorello wrote in the memo. “In a series of three campus visits, the design team engaged students, staff, and campus leaders in a triple-track programming process to identify space needs, test the needs with classroom layout guide boards, and analyze the project’s space. These efforts visualized how the program spaces would interact with each other and ideal work flow in a perfect diagrammatic context. Study completed.
The cost to build the facility was $49.3 million. Trustees voted Thursday to transfer $15.6 million in unrestricted reserves to fund the project. The balance of the cost is planned to be covered through the sale of revenue bonds, which will be considered by the ATU Board of Trustees in October.
Fiorello wrote in her memo that the project’s goals include “providing a safe and accessible walking experience for students from all directions and within the site, from the east entrance between Brown Hall and Rothwell Hall. A space that hosts a variety of student life events.”
In the year The schedule calls for construction to begin in August 2023 and continue through December 2024. Peak completion of the project is expected in early 2025 with a grand opening date between June and August 2025.
In other business Thursday, the ATU Board of Trustees:
* Awarded an $8,099,000 contract to Alessi Keyes Construction of North Little Rock for the renovation of Jones Residence Hall.
* Selected Little Rock Architects to provide architectural services for the proposed roof and exterior renovation project at Carraway Residence Hall.
* Authorized the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to establish an interim position to focus on promoting mental health among the ATU student body;
*Extended the existing Covid-19 sick leave policy for ATU employees until August 30, 2023.
* $275,000 from the Post Office Auxiliary Fund to relocate the US Post Office location at Arkansas Tech from the WO Young Building to the University Commons clubhouse;
* Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU President, after a review and evaluation of a request for proposal for ATU employees to sign a contract regarding health insurance in 2023, gave Bowen the authority to issue a premium structure not to exceed the fiscal year. 2023 Budget Benefit Expenditure Levels previously approved and approved by the Board of Directors;
* Granted an access permit to the City of Russellville on the north side of the ATU property on 16th Street to replace an existing storm drain.
* Adjusting the budget and financing of the renovations at Jones Residence Hall to account for inflation and increases in the cost of materials, equipment, supplies and services;
* Approved the updated ATU Faculty and Supplemental Handbook for the 2022-23 academic year.
* Approved 2022-23 student handbooks for ATU’s Russellville and Ozark campuses;
* Approved a new policy and procedure manual for the ATU Public Safety Department;
*Has been accepted into an undergraduate-optional admissions policy testing program with at least a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale or at least a 2.0 cumulative high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale and a minimum 18 ACT composite score. Unconditional admission criteria for undergraduate students at ATU’s Russellville campus;
* Adopted a new flexible work arrangement policy that allows non-faculty employees the opportunity to request different remote work assignments and/or schedule adjustments.
* Renovations began on the ATU-Ozark campus by establishing a financing mechanism for the construction of industrial control systems, launching an architect search and transferring $600,000 from the ATU-Ozark campus education and general reserve funds to finance the project. a $1 million grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education;
* Established an additional, grant-funded temporary position to support the Career Pathways initiative at ATU-Ozark;
* And the 2022-23 traffic and parking regulations for the ATU-Ozark campus have been adopted.
In personnel matters, the ATU Board of Trustees has confirmed the following full-time faculty appointments at the Russellville campus for the 2022-23 academic year:
* Nathan Brennan, visiting instructor of chemistry; Brittany Burris, instructor of nursing; Dr. Netla Cureton, Curriculum and Instructional Visiting Instructor; Donna Curran, biology teacher; Dr. Bhaskar Ghosh, Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science; Carmen Goodner, Nursing Visiting Instructor; Kyler Hecke, assistant professor of fisheries science; Caitlin Hopson, accounting instructor; Dr. Claire Cortina, Assistant Professor of English; Dr. Nathaniel Mensink, Assistant Professor of Music; Kathleen Myers, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction; Tiffany Nance, psychology instructor; Dr. Subha Pratihar, Assistant Professor of Chemistry; Dr. Phoebe Robertson, Assistant Professor of Music; Kasten Searles, visiting instructor of art; Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science, MD Abu Salam Siddiq; Dr. Bethany Swindell, Assistant Professor of Emergency Management; Dr. Mary Trotter, Assistant Professor of Music; Christine Ulsperger, Visiting Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Sociology; Dr. Kelsey Utne, Assistant Professor of History; Chris Waid-Jones, Assistant Professor of Art; Darlene Williams, biology teacher; Janet Winn, visiting instructor of mathematics; and Dr. Zahra Zamanipour, assistant professor of electrical engineering.
Also in ATU’s Department of Academic Affairs, Dr. Janine Myers, professor of mathematics, has been confirmed as associate vice president for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Jeff Olgur, Associate Professor of Professional Studies and Summer Brunch Professor of Art, has been offered opportunities to step down from the department and assume full-time teaching roles effective August 10, 2022. and Dr. Lynnette Gilbert, assistant professor of art, named interim head of the art department effective July 1, 2022.
ATU Trustees have approved the hiring of the following full-time employees at the Russellville campus:
*Joey Baldwin, Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach, effective July 29, 2022. Marcia Brown, One Stop Student Center Administrative Specialist, effective July 11, 2022. Holly Haynes, Disability Services Coordinator, effective July 1, 2022; Jordan Jones, head softball coach, effective August 8, 2022; Justin Qualls, crisis support consultant and security affairs manager, effective July 15, 2022; Melissa Riffle, Director of Human Resources, effective July 5, 2022, and Rosendo Trapala, Administrative Assistant for Campus Life and Student Union, effective July 5, 2022.
The ATU Board of Trustees has approved the following full-time appointments at the ATU-Ozark Campus:
*Kalise Cain, Faculty of Health Sciences Human Resources Education at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective August 8, 2022; Brenda Huntinger, Faculty of Health Information Technology Workforce Studies, effective August 9, 2022. Nathaniel Lutz, Faculty of Human Resources Education at the Arkansas Tech Career Center in Automation Technology, effective August 8, 2022; Hervey Prince II, welding technology faculty in the Arkansas Tech Career Center’s workforce education faculty, effective August 8, 2022. Jonathan Weatherall, Health Sciences Technology Workforce Education faculty at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective August 8, 2022. Mario Varela-Pesina, Student Support Services Specialist, effective July 18, 2022; Lisa Pittman, registered nursing workforce education faculty, effective August 9, 2022. Jordan Wright, Registered Nursing Human Resources Faculty, effective August 9, 2022; and Michael Young, faculty adjunct for automotive service technology workforce education at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective August 8, 2022.
The Board accepted the resignations of the following ATU staff.
*Josh Bertke, assistant softball coach, effective July 15, 2022; Sloane Bertke, administrative specialist for student affairs and residential life, effective August 1, 2022; Brooke Briley, Admissions Management Assistant, effective August 5, 2022; Sarah Brownlee, Student Support Services Counselor, effective July 28, 2022. Sarah Burnett, STEM Project Coordinator, effective August 12, 2022; Sophie Cheshire, Admissions Officer, effective July 15, 2022. Greg Crouch, Director of Grants and Sponsored Programs, effective July 20, 2022, Agnes Cruz, Director of Student Services for Teacher Education, effective July 1, 2022, Andrea Denk, Mathematics Teacher, effective July 6, 2022; Dr. Alwin D’Souza, assistant professor of agricultural business, effective August 4, 2022. Shelbea Gentry, academic and career advisor, effective August 15, 2022. Donna Henderson, Financial Aid Specialist, effective July 1, 2022; Dr. Barbara Johnson, professor of student affairs administration, effective August 8, 2022. Dr. Tasha King, Assistant Professor of Agriculture, effective December 10, 2022. Bill Lacava, assistant dean of residential life, effective July 5, 2022. Brian Lacey, director of physical plant/facilities management, effective July 22, 2022, Amanda Lowe, operations consultant, effective July 29, 2022; Jim McSweeney, assistant athletic trainer, effective August 1, 2022. Christina McSweeney, head softball coach, effective July 8, 2022; Elizabeth Sinor, student success coordinator at ATU-Ozark Campus, effective August 16, 2022. Kelsey Tennyson, welding technology faculty in workforce education at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, effective June 7, 2022. Stephen Weinman, Coordinator of Residential Life, effective July 5, 2022. Lori Weinland, director of student support services, effective August 5, 2022, and Dr. Jeff Woods, professor of history, effective June 26, 2022.
A retirement request has been issued to Dr. Wanda Christie, associate professor of nursing and ATU faculty member since 2006. Jane Sewell, Administrative Specialist at the Roy and Christine Sturgis Academic Advising Center and an ATU staff member since 2003. and Dr. V. Carol Smith, professor of curriculum and instruction and ATU faculty member since 2004.
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