In coming months, RWC will be making many changes to the campus, as administrators have decided to take on several capital projects. According to Dean Dolores Straker, these changes will be taking place over the spring and summer quarters. Dean Straker said she would like to keep everyone informed on what these projects are and what they entail. The Flory Building will be renovated, starting Summer Quarter, to house the Professional Development Institute, which is currently located on Carver Woods Road. Dean Straker expects the renovation to be completed by the start of Fall 2006.
There are also going to be three new temporary buildings, which are in the process of being leased at this time, Dean Straker said. The temporary buildings will provide six classrooms and will be on campus by Spring Quarter. These temporary structures will be located outside the south exit from the Muntz Hall auditorium. They will be ready for use by Fall Quarter 2006.
Muntz Hall will also undergo some renovations over Summer Quarter. Rooms 127, 129, and 131 will become student space. This means that 127, which is currently a conference room, will be lost. But conference room space will be gained with the Flory renovation, Dean Straker said.
Muntz rooms 306, 307, 308, and 309 will be used for the Teaching and Learning Center, as well as faculty office space with modular furniture. These rooms are currently classrooms, but the space will be replaced with the six classrooms in the temporary buildings.
Right now RWC is also in the planning phase for a new high tech building. There were college-wide surveys completed last June, which have assisted the UC architect’s office in planning the space in this new building. With any renovation we have to anticipate inconveniences. The Dean asks for everyone’s patience with the projects, in the knowledge that “all the changes will improve the RWC community.”
Not everyone is pleased with the plans, however. At the January 26th RWC faculty meeting, several faculty expressed concern about the building and renovation plans. Consequently, two meetings were scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31, and Thursday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. to discuss the issues.
These faculty meetings will give people a chance to express their concerns about the plans. It is uncertain if it’s too late for any changes to be made at this time.