April 30, 2008 10:02 pm
—
By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Officials at Pittsburg State University are seeking private donors to alleviate some of the cost burden for students in connection with a new health center.
Ron Womble, the university’s director of public relations, said construction on a roughly $4 million building to accommodate student health and university counseling services is scheduled to begin this fall.
“It’s been a high priority of President (Tom) Bryant to get this done and keep the burden off the backs off students as much as possible,” he said.
The building would be 11,400 square feet. It is to be built at the southwest corner of Lindburg Street and South Broadway, just south of Russ Hall.
The university’s student health center and counseling services programs now are in separate buildings across campus. The health center is in a small building adjacent to Carnie Smith Stadium, while counseling and mental-health services are in Whitesitt Hall.
Womble said consolidating the two buildings would streamline services.
A resolution to increase student fees by $12 per semester to help pay for the center was approved by the student body during the spring elections for student government. Results of the election were announced April 21.
But if donations are adequate, officials said, the $12 increase could be trimmed.
The university previously obtained private dollars and bond authority to finance the Tyler Research Center, a $5.7 million structure that houses polymer research. It opened in September 2007.
A combination of city, state and federal dollars was amassed in 2006 to finance the bulk of the $14 million multipurpose building that is under construction across from the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater on South Rouse Street.
That building will house a fitness center; the university’s health, human performance and recreation department; the military sciences department; and the local unit of the Army National Guard.
Womble said classes are expected to be held in the new fitness center when summer school begins June 10, while the rest of the building will open in time for the fall 2008 semester.
Womble said student fees were increased by $14 per semester for the fitness center.
PSU projects
The planned health center at Pittsburg State University would mark the third in a string of recent construction efforts at PSU using private money or a combination of funding sources.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.