 "Photo: Billy Swart")
The groundbreaking of the new building for the department of education and behavioral sciences occurred in mid June due to an estimated $29 million of state bonded funding that earmarked the project by Tennessee lawmakers.
Tom Tozer, MTSU's director of news and public affairs said the building is slated to be finished in 2011 with its first classes scheduled in the spring semester of 2012.
"We were delighted by the recent decision to fulfill the commitment to construct the building, [and] we are excited to be able to move forward with that project," said Diane Miller, interim executive vice president and provost. "With the economic times the way that they have been, there was certainly some anxiety on our campus that we might lose the appropriations for the building."
Tennessee State Senator Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, said the state legislators had appropriated the funding for the building two years ago, but the funding had somehow been used to fund other projects.
"MTSU is the largest undergraduate institution in Tennessee, [and] we have numerous students that major in education," Tracy said. "It is very valuable for MTSU to have the building - It is the responsible thing to do."
Tozer said the building would house a department of students and faculty that are divided into the Ned McWherter Learning Resource Center and other buildings on campus.
"People are spread out over the campus, and I think they want to put them under one roof so they can achieve a synergy with the students and faculty," Tozer said.
Tozer said that the funding was originally set in place with around $17 million in cash and $12 million in bonds, but the new approved legislation was issued solely in bonds.
Miller said that the original funding somehow never made it to MTSU.
"We serve a lot of students in the college of education and a lot of faculty members who have been looking for a home for their college and their teaching preparation projects," Miller said.
Miller also said that there is a lengthy process in order to secure funds for MTSU construction. She said that generally the senior leaders of campus, primarily the president, garner what the university's needs are and they submit a list of project proposals to the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
The proposals are reviewed by TBR and THEC and then are sent to the Capitol for legislative and gubernatorial approval.
The new building is being placed next to Jim Cummings Residence Hall by the new Student Union Building, which is also under construction on the east side of campus.
The future plans of the university also include the new science building, and university officials are working with state officials on securing the funding for it.
Be the first to comment on this article!