2008 Woodie Awards
Campus projects continue to move university forward
Open forum shows administrations confidence in fundraising efforts
Nik Nelson
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
Between starting construction on the new Veterans Memorial Sports Complex, breaking ground on the new academic building and putting up new residence halls on campus, the UW-L Administration is excited to continue building the reputation and legacy of the University.
"The growth that's going on…is the start of our second century, and there's not a better time to be on this campus," said Vice Chancellor of Finance Bob Hetzel at last week's Stadium Open Forum in Port O' Call.
The campus has not seen such vast changes and improvements occur simultaneously since the 1960s. Over the course of four years, Cowley, Mitchell, Coate and Drake Halls were all built to accommodate the 6000 students on campus.
Chancellor Joe Gow added that so many things happening at the same time may get confusing for students.
"As a student, you're not working with these things day-to-day and you're trying to figure them out, and yeah, that would be very puzzling," Gow said.
Nonetheless, he's sure that the powers-that-be can manage the campus-wide building overhaul. Pending the results of Tuesday's stadium referendum, funding will be secured for Phase I of stadium construction, and the UW-L Foundation has pledged to secure the necessary funds to carry forward with Phase II within the next four years.
The University has until August 31 to raise $6 million for the new academic building, after which the state will grant an additional $38 million.
"There's no way we're going to let that fail," Gow said about that fundraising effort. "It'll get done."
While plans about new residence halls have not been finalized, there will be new beds available by Fall 2011. That project will be funded almost entirely by student fees. Money from the newly-approved "Green Fund" will also likely go toward making the new halls eco-friendly.
These new additions have put UW-L at the forefront of the UW-System in recent years, according to Gow.
"We've passed UW-Eau Claire. Now there's us and Madison, and we're going to keep getting better," he said. "My personal goal is to make this the most student-centered campus anywhere and I think we're well on our way to doing that."
"The growth that's going on…is the start of our second century, and there's not a better time to be on this campus," said Vice Chancellor of Finance Bob Hetzel at last week's Stadium Open Forum in Port O' Call.
The campus has not seen such vast changes and improvements occur simultaneously since the 1960s. Over the course of four years, Cowley, Mitchell, Coate and Drake Halls were all built to accommodate the 6000 students on campus.
Chancellor Joe Gow added that so many things happening at the same time may get confusing for students.
"As a student, you're not working with these things day-to-day and you're trying to figure them out, and yeah, that would be very puzzling," Gow said.
Nonetheless, he's sure that the powers-that-be can manage the campus-wide building overhaul. Pending the results of Tuesday's stadium referendum, funding will be secured for Phase I of stadium construction, and the UW-L Foundation has pledged to secure the necessary funds to carry forward with Phase II within the next four years.
The University has until August 31 to raise $6 million for the new academic building, after which the state will grant an additional $38 million.
"There's no way we're going to let that fail," Gow said about that fundraising effort. "It'll get done."
While plans about new residence halls have not been finalized, there will be new beds available by Fall 2011. That project will be funded almost entirely by student fees. Money from the newly-approved "Green Fund" will also likely go toward making the new halls eco-friendly.
These new additions have put UW-L at the forefront of the UW-System in recent years, according to Gow.
"We've passed UW-Eau Claire. Now there's us and Madison, and we're going to keep getting better," he said. "My personal goal is to make this the most student-centered campus anywhere and I think we're well on our way to doing that."
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