Campus Revitalization

It was once said of renowned architect Daniel Burnham that his greatest influence may not have been what he built, but what he imagined. He urged us all to make no little plans, to think big. And that’s exactly what we are doing at EKU as we move forward with a bold and visionary campus renewal plan that will transform the way we learn, live and work together and even change the way others perceive us.

Plans continue to unfold for a variety of exciting projects, the cost for which will be covered by an innovative combination of public-private partnerships, private dollars, a recently approved student fee and University funds. Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” Our destiny is in our hands.

It is indeed a great time to be a Colonel!

Sep
09
Wed

Martin Hall Announcement

image of Martin Hall
Post Date: 
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 7:58am

Residents of Martin Hall,

It is an exciting time to be at Eastern Kentucky University.  President Michael T. Benson is leading the University in a revitalization of campus that will enhance the student experience.  The success of our students is in the forefront of every decision we make related to rebuilding or enhancing our facilities.

EKU is implementing an aggressive timeline in order to have new housing for residents by Fall 2017. The first phase of the process is to raze Martin Hall.  The work will begin in February 2016. University Housing is developing a plan to relocate all students currently living in Martin Hall.  We will make the transition as seamless as possible. An exact plan of action will be communicated as details are finalized. Transparency is a cornerstone of our action plan as we move forward together. We will continue to communicate with you openly through each phase of this process. 

At this point in the process, our priorities are as follows:

  • Every affected student will have a place to live.
  • Every affected student will retain the Martin Hall price point for the remainder of the year.
  • Martin Hall residents will have first priority for housing in the new residence hall to be completed in Fall 2017.

Residents who choose to be proactive in finding a permanent space on campus are encouraged to participate in room changes September 8th-14th with the rest of the campus community.  This will not be the only opportunity for Martin Hall students to move. However, it is the earliest time for students to find a permanent assignment in another residence hall.  If you do not submit a room change request all remaining Martin Hall residents will be placed in housing assignments in January.

We have created a Question and Answer page at ekubuilds.eku.edu/martinhall to address the questions we believe will be most common. Housing will continue to update the page as more details become available and staff will be available to provide information and assistance throughout the moving process.

Again, we are committed to your success and will work diligently to provide a smooth transition.

Martin Hall FAQ

When will I have to move?
Martin Hall is scheduled for demolition in February 2016.  All students must be moved by February 1st. Residents who choose to be proactive in finding a permanent space on campus are encouraged to participate in room changes September 8th-14th. If you do not submit a room change request all remaining Martin Hall residents will be placed in housing assignments in January 2016.

When can I move?
Martin Hall residents can start moving into open spaces on campus when room changes begin on September 8th 2015.  Permanent housing assignments for all remaining Martin Hall residents will be made in January 2016.

Where will I have to move?
Martin Hall residents will be able to move into any open space in any residence hall where they are eligible for residency. Priority will be given to Martin Hall residents once consolidation is complete in September 2015.

Will I be able to live in the new residence hall?
Residents of Martin Hall will be given first priority for housing placements in the new residence hall when it is completed in Fall 2017.

What if there isn’t room?
EKU Housing will provide an assignment for all Martin Hall residents.

Will I have to pay the higher residence hall rate?
No, Martin Hall residents will stay at the Martin Hall price point for the remainder of the academic year.

Will I have help moving?
We want to make this a smooth transition and housing will organize volunteers to help move students’ belongings.  Students will also be able to check out dollies to assist in the moving process.

Will I get to stay with my roommate?
Housing is making every effort possible to consolidate students when full rooms open up (priority will be given to Martin Hall residents), however we cannot guarantee roommates will be able to stay together.

Can I be released from my Housing Contract?
Because we will be placing you into a comparable or upgraded residence hall we will not need to release residents from their housing contract.

What will happen to the staff positions at Martin Hall? 
Martin Hall staff will remain EKU Housing staff members with the same benefits. The details on staff reassignments are still being determined but they will continue to have employment with EKU Housing. 

Why do students need to move during the academic year?
Academic success of our students is always our number one concern at EKU. Martin Hall residents are not required to move during the fall semester. Martin Hall residents will have a number of options and opportunities to relocate now through February 1, 2016. If residents choose not to request a room change, EKU Housing will assign placements for those Martin Hall residents in January 2016. Residents will be required to move to their assigned rooms by February 2016. To learn more about the room change request process please visit https://housing.eku.edu/insidelook/fall-2015-room-changes

Why does the construction have to begin during the academic year? 
EKU is working with a master planner who is leading the campus revitalization. The residence hall plan calls for a new residence hall to be constructed and ready for opening in Fall 2017. To meet this deadline the developer determined the site preparations and construction would need to begin no later than February 2016. 

Why were students allowed to move into Martin Hall when there were already plans to raze the building? Why did we not know about this earlier? 
Working with the master planner for the EKU campus revitalization initiative, developers determined in early September 2015 that Martin Hall should be the first phase of planned residential housing upgrades. To ensure transparency about information concerning the campus revitalization, Martin Hall residents were notified.  Fall 2015 housing assignments were made beginning in January of 2015 through August 2015 before building plans had been finalized. To learn more about the room change request process please visit https://housing.eku.edu/insidelook/fall-2015-room-changes.

Aug
25
Tue

EKU Master Building Plan

image of master plan cove
Post Date: 
Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 1:57pm

Eastern Kentucky University is partnering with HEWV Architects P.S.C. to develop a comprehensive New Campus Master Plan and Space Utilization Program for Eastern Kentucky University and the Eastern Kentucky University Foundation’s Properties. Properties include: EKU’s main campus, and regional campus sites in Corbin, Manchester, Danville, Lancaster, Hazard, Somerset. Together, the University and HEWV will guide the evolution and preservation of the University and Foundation property. This planning exercise will be inclusive and involve the entire university community, as well as local leaders and alumni. To learn more about the master planning process that is currently underway on campus.
View the introduction to the Master Planning Process.

Contact us: campusmasterplanning@eku.edu

Aug
11
Tue

Message from President Benson

image of campus rendering
Post Date: 
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 2:23pm

Regarding: EKU campus-wide renovations and student fee

Dear Student:

Thank you for choosing Eastern Kentucky University.

Whether you are just beginning your journey with us or a returning student, our pledge is to provide you with not only a world-class education but also the best possible college experience outside our classrooms and laboratories – one that makes your short time with us memorable and positively shapes you and your future in every imaginable way.

In order to do that, we need an environment and facilities that equal the high quality of our academic programs and faculty and match the level of our commitment to your academic success and personal growth.

As you probably know, the University is in the midst of a campus-wide revitalization, a comprehensive renewal that will transform the way we learn, live and work together and even change the way others perceive us. You see evidence of that everywhere you turn – for example, construction of Phase 2 of our New Science Building and the numerous landscaping projects designed to enhance our curb appeal. Not only are your best interests at the heart of all these improvements; you are playing an active part in some of them.

This past spring, the EKU Student Senate approved (and the Board of Regents and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education ratified) a fixed special-use fee of $150 per semester that will go toward improving, renovating and/or constructing student-centered facilities. Two projects have been identified as the more immediate priorities: a new, much larger recreation and wellness center and a renovated student union facility. Because these are student facilities funded with student dollars, you will have a voice in determining the features that best serve you and your fellow classmates. For more details about these and other projects and plans, follow @EKU Builds on Twitter or at ekubuilds.eku.edu.

This special-use fee is applied to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students and pro-rated for all part-time students based on number of credit hours. Part-time undergraduates will be assessed $12.50 per credit hour; part-time graduate students will pay at a rate of $16.67 per credit hour. The fee is applied regardless of where or how you take your classes, so our online and regional campus students are sharing equally in the cost. In the interest of fairness, no appeals or exemptions from the fee assessment will be considered.

Just as you have big dreams for the rest of your life, we are making no little plans for our University. A combination of factors suggest our time is now to take bold and visionary steps to ensure a brighter future for the University and for you and all the students who follow in your footsteps. Your investment via this fee is an investment in the future value of your EKU degree. As alumni, you will continue to benefit from a strong and vital Eastern Kentucky University.

Again, thank you for trusting your future with Eastern Kentucky University and for your continued support. Together, we will reach our goals and achieve our dreams. Go Colonels!

Sincerely,
Michael Benson
President

Jun
30
Tue

Vision 2020 Community Forum

image of EKU Campus
Post Date: 
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 - 9:02pm

Eastern Kentucky University updated the community and campus about the many ongoing and planned campus revitalization initiatives in a Town and Gown Vision 2020 Forum Tuesday evening, June 30, 6-8 p.m. at the EKU Center for the Arts. Dr. Benson was joined on the Center’s main stage by members of the President's Council, City, and County officials. The discussion explored ways that the University and City can partner together for mutual benefits.

The President’s remarks included a multimedia presentation that details many of the University’s projects and plans.

Watch the video of the Town and Gown Vision 2020 Forum.  

Download the presentation. 

AttachmentSize
Community Forum Part16.94 MB
Community Forum Part26.95 MB
Community Forum Part33.02 MB
Jun
25
Thu

Campus Revitalization: Student Housing Update

Photo of Greek Towers
Post Date: 
Thursday, June 25, 2015 - 3:32pm

Eastern Kentucky University fraternities and sororities will be included in discussions about future housing arrangements on the Richmond campus.

Todd and Dupree Halls, commonly known as the Greek Towers, will come down sometime in the next few years as the University continues its campus-wide revitalization process, particularly in the heart of campus, and addresses a need for more modern housing options. The EKU Board of Regents recently approved razing Todd, Dupree and Martin residence halls and substituting on the same sites new, suite-style residential housing, to be financed by public-private partnerships. The Board also approved the demolition of about 40 housing units in the 700/800 area of Brockton.

Billy Martin, executive director of student life and auxiliary services, emphasized that, while the exact timetable for the work is yet to be determined, the EKU Greek community will have a voice in the decision-making process.

 “The Board’s approval was a necessary part of the process to begin working on a housing plan,” Martin said. “As we work with our master planning firm to determine the timetable for demolition and construction, we will work with the Greek community and involve the general University community as well to be sure the needs of all our on-campus residents are met. As we move forward, we are very committed to involving people this will affect in the process. Whatever is decided, the Greek community will be part of that decision.”

The earliest the work would begin (on Martin Hall and Brockton) is the Spring 2016 semester, but Martin stressed that any demolition and construction would occur “sequentially, so that we minimize the impact on our students and maintain our capacity to meet student housing needs.” Todd and Dupree halls will be addressed last. “The work needs to be done in phases, so we won’t be taking them all down in the Spring.”

Whenever the work is complete, the end result will be approximately 1,500 new suite-style rooms.

The housing initiative is part of the University’s effort to remain competitive for students, Martin said, adding, “We need to be sure our timeline is aggressive.”

Dupree and Todd halls, which opened in 1964, are 11 stories and house approximately 340 students each. Martin Hall, which opened in 1962, is four stories and houses up to 400 students. Those three facilities were selected, Martin said, because they could not easily be upgraded to a format today’s students demand.

The move to modernize the University’s housing stock also dovetails with the University’s commitment to student success. Studies have shown that students who live on campus are more likely to persevere and graduate.

“We want our students to live on campus,” Martin said, “and we want them to be successful.”

Mar
16
Mon

Will the fee be charged to students taking a full load in the summer? What about all the students taking only one or two summer courses?

Post Date: 
Monday, March 16, 2015 - 4:43pm

The Special-Use Fee will be implemented beginning with the fall 2015 semester.  Beginning in the fall, full-time undergraduate and graduate students will pay $150 per semester. Part-time undergraduate students will pay at a rate of $12.50 per credit hour; part-time graduate students will pay at a rate of $16.67 per credit hour.

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