BGSU TRUSTEES SUPPORT PROGRESS OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
The Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees at its Oct. 13 meeting continued to lay the groundwork for academic programming and campus capital projects that will enhance student learning and career preparedness.
The trustees approved an additional $1.45 million for preliminary, preparatory work for three additional aspects of the renovation and transformation of Hanna Hall into the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center as the new home for the College of Business. Included are construction manager services, relocation of chilled water and gas lines, and the construction of several prototype offices in the existing Business Building. Faculty and students will be able to view the new office floor plans and furniture layouts and provide feedback.
The Maurer Center is scheduled to open in fall 2020.
“This is an exciting time for Bowling Green State University,” said President Mary Ellen Mazey. “The University is energized and moving forward on many fronts to provide our students the most up-to-date programs and the best learning facilities based on what the workplace demands. The Maurer Center will be a premier learning environment that will help equip our students to meet the challenges of the global economy.”
In accordance with the Ohio Department of Higher Education mandate for public universities, BGSU prepared a report looking out at the next six years to identify capital projects and their proposed funding. First among them is a comprehensive renovation of the Technology Building, including related campus infrastructure. Built 40 years ago, the building needs to be updated to accommodate new and growing academic programs as the fields of technology evolve. The total cost for the planned renovation, requisite electric hub and related campus infrastructure will be about $20 million.
“With the recent ABET accreditation and our northwest Ohio success grants for advanced manufacturing, we need to invest in labs for our students in our new mechatronics major and in engineering technology,” said Dr. Rodney Rogers, provost and senior vice president. “We want to be a leader in the workforce in those and other areas of technology education.”
The board also approved the creation and naming of the School of the Built Environment in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. Uniting the departments of Architecture and Environmental Design and Construction Management, the new school will allow them to collaborate on curriculum planning, innovative programming, research and teaching. The new school will be the only one of its kind among Ohio and regional universities.
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