Angelo State University Sets Stage for Major Expansion
centennial master plan, education, residence hall expansion, san angelo state university,
Angelo State University is bolstering its reputation as a destination college and has drawn up a Centennial Master Plan to ramp up its residence hall options and revamp some key areas of campus. The target date: 2028, when the institution turns 100.
ASU joined the Texas Tech University System in fall 2007, and since then, its physics department received a $2 million share of a $20 million grant and the university garnered a $1.3 million grant for its nursing program, beating out 13 other state institutions.
Those accomplishments are noteworthy, but the campus has to be inviting to bring in the students it is targeting, says ASU President Dr. Joseph C. Rallo. The demographics of the campus are almost identical to those of larger universities, with students coming from almost every county in Texas, almost every state and numerous foreign countries. Enrollment at ASU hovers at 6,200 students.
“We’re going to have to increasingly draw from the population areas of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to keep the students driving past all those other campuses they pass along the way to come to our campus,” Rallo explains. “That means having solid programming and the quality of facilities and social aspects that are being demanded. The changes we’re undergoing are not just aesthetic, they are also meeting the expectations of our students.”
On the facility expansion front, the goal is to build on the existing design of the campus. A pivotal piece of the plan is the renovation of the Hardeman Building into a one-stop center that will cater to student services, as well as international studies and multicultural studies programs.
Another step is designed to address one of the school’s biggest challenges – a tight residential market.
“At most colleges, the students live on campus the first two years. Here, about half the students stay in campus housing all four years,” Rallo explains. “While that’s a good testament to our campus, it presents a challenge for providing that housing.”
Thus evolved the commitment to build Centennial Village, a $28.2 million, 526-bed residence hall on campus that is slated to open in fall 2008. In addition, one of school’s two 1970s-era high-rises is slated for demolition, with an additional residence hall to take its place.
Another project on the drawing board is an upgraded recreational center. Students approved a fee to fund the new building, which will boost the school’s marketing and recruiting while enhancing the wellness of students. Construction will start in late 2008 in order to complete the project by late 2009 or early 2010.
“Of all the things we’re doing, that will be one of the most visible and popular,” Rallo says. “Those centers tend to be true hubs of activity on a college campus.” Proposed program additions include a college for nursing and allied health and a physical therapy program at the doctoral level. Rallo says campus leaders are also working with community groups to create a performing arts center.
“That will allow us to grow our programs while extending our outreach to the community,” Rallo says. “It will be a very positive move for our whole area.”
Story by Kelli Levey
