Master Plan Changes UAM Campus

Editor-in-Chief

 
   MONTICELLO - The brick maybe dulled and eroded on the edges, but the inside of Wells and Sorrells Hall looks new and clean due to steps in the master plan.

   The master plan unveiled plans to update the University of Arkansas-Monticello’s older buildings, renovate the pond and add a new athletics facility, among other projects. 

   The work all started with an idea from Chancellor Jack Lassiter in 2004. UAM unveiled its master plan in 2005. They started putting their plan for UAM into action shortly after.

Phase I

   The 2005 master plan listed 12 projects in Phase I. 

   As of Spring 2010, the projects considered complete in Phase I include Weevil Pond, Wells and Sorrells Halls, the Indoor Practice facility, renovations to the stadium seating and press box, relocation of the agricultural barn, School of Forest Resources’ work center and the classroom and lab additions at the Crossett and McGehee campuses. The university also considered options for a new sign at the entrance of the campus, but delayed the project.

   “I think the renovations present the feeling that UAM, though small, is a progressive university with a keen awareness of the quality of place we maintain in the fabric of Southeast Arkansas. It has already and will definitely continue to help,” said James Crow, assistant professor of Nursing.   

   The renovation of Wells and Sorrells Halls fit into the plan’s idea of maximizing the assets the UAM campus already had.

   The plan updated and modernized the buildings, improving the looks and function of the buildings, while preserving its historic integrity. 

   Crow said the offices in Sorrells Hall were large enough and very nice. He described the improvements to the classrooms with permanent equipment and as having nice tables and chairs.

   “The classrooms are designed so that students are in closer proximity to the faculty which helps with teaching and learning,” Crow said. “The building though old is just like new, very nice and comfortable.”

   The renovations of Sorrells and Wells included adding a district heating and cooling system, unlike the individual units the halls once had. The renovations changed the layout of both buildings and added an outside staircase and the buildings share an elevator with a wrap around staircase. Sorrells Hall received an exterior staircase at the back of the building, which leads to its second floor. 

   Sorrells Hall houses the UAM Personnel Office, the School of Nursing and professor’s offices. Wells Hall houses the Department of Speech and Debate, the Journalism Department and Weevils at Work. 

   The Fourth District Agricultural School, now UAM, originally consisted of two buildings Willard Hall and Sorrells Hall in September 1910. Two years later the school added Wells Hall.

A Place of Beauty

   Weevil Pond also received a new look with the new Weevil Walk and William E. Morgan Fountain. Administration and alumni dedicated the Weevil Walk and William E. Morgan Fountain Oct. 12, 2007.

   The walk starts at the 4-foot obelisk donated by Kenneth Mann.  Along the walk, people can read the many engraved names of alumni, faculty, students and even “Ned Walked Here.”  

   The walk features 38 stones, with 10 from businesses or banks from Monticello, Star City or Crossett; two from UAM faculty and administration; two from retired faculty; seven from various families; nine in memory or in honor; two from Greek organizations and one from the A&M Class of 1955.

   Around the walk, the past and the present come together with new and old benches. Nine metal benches and four green benches circle the pond.

   The Class of 1951 donated two of the four green benches with the two donated by the Class of 1961. Each metal bench displays a plaque for each donor. Some of the donors of the metal benches include G. Warren Stephens 1967, UAM African-American Alumni 1967-2007, “Campus Kid,” and R. David and Loyce Ray. Other benches honored former students and one honored Frank Horsfall, first president of UAM.

   In addition to the benches, stones and bricks, three mile markers placed along the walk tell walkers how many tenths a mile they have walked. Aramark purchased the 1/10th marker; ESG 2005, private donor, purchased the 4/10th marker and Dr. Helen Mitchell Reuter purchased the 2/10th mile marker.   

   “The pond has become a welcomed and often-traveled part of the UAM campus. Members of the UAM family as well as people from the surrounding community are often seen walking around or fishing in the pond,” said Scott Kuttenkuler, director of Advancement. “The pond looks great and as one of the first things you see on campus, it really sets the tone.”

   Kuttenkuler said the basic structure of the pond was complete, but several elements of the walk are designed to be able to be expanded over time. More bricks can be added in other sections of the walk if needed.

   Two hundred and sixty-seven additional engraved bricks have been added to the 748 already in the walk purchased in 2007. A total of 1,015 purchased bricks have been purchased since the “Name a Brick” program started in 2006. 

   Jay Jones, vice chancellor of Finance and Administration, said the pond was a nice focal point on the Monticello Campus. He described the landscapes improvements and dredging as subtle enhancements.

   “The fountain was a pleasant aesthetic improvement and adding the walkway around the perimeter has allowed the community to come (and) enjoy the pond while spending time exercising,” Jones said. “The benefits of this project are more tangible, but substantial.”

   The depth of the pond changed after the renovation as well. The north end of the pond reaches a depth of one foot, while the south end goes down to 20 feet for use in irrigation.

   The renovation of the pond began with donations from alumni and the purchase of bricks, stones and benches. UAM received a $33,000 grant from the Arkansas Recreations Trails program and an endowment from the family of William E. Morgan. The family bestowed the endowment to provide for the upkeep and further improvements to the area. 

A Must for Recruiting

   UAM constructed a $2.9 million athletic practice facility and renovated the Willis "Leslie" Convoy Cotton Boll Stadium.

   UAM Head Football Coach Gwaine Mathews described the facility as a “must” for recruiting in 2008.

   Mathews said the new facility has helped the football program in three ways. First, it gives their players a sense of importance in the community and the university. Second, he said he thinks it's one of the best buildings on campus and the whole university has a sense of pride about the new building. Third, the new building helped to recruit more players. 

   Mathews said the building has helped to recruit players because high school students want to go to a school with nice facilities.

   “They don’t want to go to a school that has no facilities or junkie facilities,” he said.

  Since being in the new building, they have recruited up to 25 high school students into their program. Mathews described it as the biggest high school class they have had since he started coaching in 2005. 

  He estimated recruiting 15-16 players a year in the old building and the new facilities helped in recruiting junior college players and transfers. 

   “Our old place was a joke, it was the worst facility in probably all of college football,” he said. “Every department on this campus had better facilities than our football department.”

   The 34,160 square-foot building houses eight offices, a workroom, a coach’s locker room, two video meeting rooms and two classrooms, which can be made into smaller classrooms. In addition, the facility offers a 40-yard indoor football field, with the width of a regulation football field.

   UAM raised funds through the “Campaign for Athletics,” which began before the 2008 season with the renovation of the Willis "Leslie" Convoy Cotton Boll Stadium. The campaign raised $600,000 in private contributions to help pay for the facility. The renovations for the stadium included expanding the press box, adding chaired-backed seating to the home grandstands and the installation of an electronic message board on the visitor’s side of the press box.

Phase II

   Phase II of the Master Plan will only be the renovation and construction of the Forest Resources Complex. Other buildings and projects originally planned will be addressed as additional funds become available.

   The available funding collected for the complex equaled $5,763,357 as of March 2, comprising of:

• $2 million donated by Gov. Mike Beebe in the 2007 session,
• $1,705,857 donated by the Arkansas Legislature in the 2007 session,
• $997,500 (75 percent of $1,330,000) donated by the Arkansas Legislature in the 2008 session, 
• And a private gift for $1 million

   The project might also receive addition funding from the 2009 session of the Legislature in the amount of $332,500 and a Federal Appropriation for the 2010 fiscal year for equipment equaling $250,000. The total, assuming the additional 25 percent is released, will be $6,345,857.

   The Annex for the Forest Resource building will sit on the land where Jeter Hall currently stands. Jeter Hall is tentatively scheduled to be demolished in late summer and early fall 2010. 

A New Home 

   Officially recognized student organizations in Jeter Hall must leave the building by May 30. The 14 organizations currently housed in Jeter have been offered space in the Red Barn, located near the Science Center and behind the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship building.

   The 14 organizations had until April 1 to let Mindy Holcomb, director of Student Programs and Activities, know if they would like space in the Red Barn.  As of April 1, 12 of the 14 organizations requested space.  Other organizations not located in Jeter will have the opportunity to use any available space. 

   David Waschalk of Phi Lambda Chi said he didn’t like the idea and that all the organizations were being given the short end of the stick.

   Senior Troy Dillard, former president of Alpha Phi Alpha, expressed his discontent in having to move. 

   Dillard raised the concern of privacy and the safety of their belongings. He raised another concern about raising the money to build a place for their fraternity. They are required to pay taxes to their fraternity.

   “For (the university) to think we have the funds to build in ludicrous,” he said. “Giving (the Greeks) land means nothing if we can’t put anything on the land.” 

   Holcomb said moving is something the organizations in Jeter Hall have to do and 10 years ago they did not have Jeter Hall to use to house their organizations. The organizations took care of themselves.

   “If you go to any other college, the other organizations have been spending their money to have what they have there,” she said.

 Holcomb said Jeter Hall used to be an honors dorm while she attended UAM.

   According to Clay Brown, vice chancellor for University Relations and Student Affairs, the Red Barn might be tentatively given the name of “Student Organizational Building” or something similar, while the organizations are housed there. 

   The master plan will have land and space available for organizations to build a separate building. The construction of any buildings will be the responsibility of the organizations through non-university fundraising efforts.

   The organization will have to meet certain specification in design, use, parking and utility connections. The area for construction will be located in the area between Weevil Pond and Drew Central Schools.

Other Projects

   At the time of development, the master plan identified the projects considered to be the most important at the time to the university.

    As of March 8, the plan described the Math and Science Center as an area in need of improvements. Jones described the renovations as the most critical project for the university, but the renovations have not been made at this time. The plan identified the main issues with the building as heating, cooling and ventilation. The plan described the building as having minimal thermal insulation. 

   According to the plan, “The exterior envelope (of the building) needs to be insulated at least to minimum standards and the HVAC systems need to be upgraded and redesigned in many areas. A major step to the ultimate renovation of the building will be improving the thermal performance of the exterior and upgrading the HVAC and ventilation systems.”

    The original scope of the project included the Babin Business Center’s elevator addition, which was included in the Wells and Sorrells renovation, but the university removed the BBC from Phase I to stay within budget.

     The University will be discussing the possibility of new residence halls. They will be studying several variables in preparation for the project like the number of enrolled students, high school enrollment numbers, budget considerations and payment options.

   Brown said the university realizes some of UAM’s current resident facilities do not have the elements the students’ desire.

   “When our three traditional halls were constructed in the ‘50s and ‘60s, students’ needs were vastly different than they are today,” he said. “As such, student expectations and the design of our three traditional halls have grown incongruent.”

   Brown said the university is committed to new construction and possibly improving the existing facilities depending on the state funding for higher education.

   While projects like the renovation of the Math and Science Center and the Babin Business Center have been considered at some level, the funding for projects like these and others remain a primary challenge.

    However, once UAM completes the master plan, they will have all buildings on campus to be accessible for all students enrolled, and students will have an improved learning environment.