Market-style dining and Starbucks coffee are some of the
amenities that students of Kutztown University could soon enjoy as part of the
school's major renovation plan.
On Tuesday, Kutztown University held a public forum on
campus to announce its master plan, which includes renovations and expansions
and possibly new buildings -- with most of the projects hinging on obtaining
capital funding from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
"I think it's a progressive master plan and keeps the
student in mind with what they need and want in student life and academic
life," said Matt Santos, director of university relations at the
university.
The PASSHE requires all state universities to develop
periodic master plans for renovations and updates to its campuses. The state
system then determines how much of the plan will be funded.
Kutztown's master plan has 20 proposed projects totaling
$165 million over the next 10 years, including renovations to the school's
business center, library and three of its dormitories. In addition, the
college's multi-purpose sports field would have artificial turf installed.
As some of the renovations will be lengthier than others,
students won't have to wait too long to share in a cup of Starbucks coffee in a
new cafe, which should be up and running in the McFarland Student Union
building by spring. The following spring will feature a market-style dining
café with a variety of freshly prepared food, which could include vegan and
Mediterranean dishes. And by fall 2016, the campus' South Dining Hall will be
open all day, every day.
One of the highlights for students is a welcome center,
which the school hopes to begin renovating in 2016.
"I think the welcome center is one of the greatest
features of the plan," said Nick Imbesi, student government president at
Kutztown. "It will be a great way for us to retain students and increase
our enrollment."
According to Santos, Kutztown's enrollment has dropped to
its lowest in 10 years, and the master plan will assist in making the campus
more appealing to attract and retain students.
"The drop in enrollment is not just at KU, it's a
national trend," Santos said. "What we are all facing, since the last
decade, is a drop in high school graduates."
"There is more competition now for the students that
are available to attend college," he said. "The economy and cost of
higher education put more pressure on families now more than ever."
Students were involved and solicited throughout the
development of the master plan, Santos said. A lot of the decisions and plans
for the renovations are based on what the university heard from students.
"It's important to have the students' voice,"
Imbesi said. "I think the plan is definitely a step in the right
direction."
With Kutztown's business program continuously growing,
Santos said, the renovation to the business center's deFrancesco building is a
top priority and will allow the program to remain concentrated to one building,
becoming its headquarters.
For student safety near and around campus, the school also
plans to install pedestrian traffic signals and traffic lights on Main Street,
which is the Maxatawny Township road that divides the North and South campuses.
The school has been paying for security guards and crossing guards to control
the traffic and safety.
With an enrollment of more than 9,500 students each paying
more than $1,000 in fees per semester (activity fees, student fees, health
center fees, technology fees) and up to $4,700 in room and board fees, the
college already is able to renovate the dining facilities, which will begin
this summer.
The remaining renovations would be funded by the PASSHE; a
portion of the plan's funds would be awarded each year to the college.
The state slashed funding for PASSHE the last few years,
Santos said.
"We have to prioritize now more than ever because there
might be less to go around," he said.
Source: LVB.com
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