Cheryl Keenan
For The Register-Herald
— MONTGOMERY — New student applications are up and major renovation projects
are planned. Those were the two major points addressed at a gathering on the
campus of WVU Tech here Tuesday.
Charles Bayless, president of WVU Tech, gave the school’s supporters, including
faculty, staff and board members and the media an update on the school’s
progress and future plans.
Capital improvements of more than $10 million are planned for the Fayette County
campus, Bayless said.
Renovations will be made to Maclin Hall ($6.2 million) and the Tech Center ($4.6
million) within the next 12 months, the president said.
“Maclin Hall is the oldest dorm on campus, and yet the most structurally sound,
according to the engineers,” he told those gathered at the Tech Center’s private
dining room.
The building has been home most recently to the state’s Corrections Academy,
which moved earlier this month from the aging building to another facility in
Putnam County.
After renovations to Maclin, which are projected to be completed by September in
time for the fall term, the building will be used as a student residence hall.
Planned renovations include new sprinkler and HVAC systems, upgraded restrooms,
a new roof and other cosmetic upgrades.
Renovations were earlier made to another of the school’s dormitories, Ratliff
Hall.
Bayless stressed, upon questioning from Tech Foundation board member Gordon
Billheimer, Tech officials are working with Division of Corrections personnel to
see the Corrections Academy housed once more in Montgomery.
“I believe we are (going to be able to keep it here),” Bayless said. “They want
to stay.”
Renovations at the Tech Center, which are scheduled to be complete by December,
in time for the Spring 2008 semester, include a project that will centralize the
student food program.
“It will include a new, expanded cafeteria, eliminating the need for cafeterias
in the two other halls, as well as other improvements.”
The improvements have been funded by a bond floated by West Virginia University.
Enrollment application numbers “are encouraging,” Bayless said.
“We’ve seen a 61 percent increase in applications. That’s huge.”
The president also pointed out the Leonard C. Nelson School of Engineering has
seen a 49 percent increase in applications, and the college has added two new
majors of study: criminal justice and psychology.
Bayless also discussed the development of more online degrees for both WVU Tech
and the Community & Technical College at WVU Tech.
Bayless pointed to a number of operational improvements that have been made to
merge operations of the local campus with those of West Virginia University,
thus saving funds on the Tech campus. For instance, Tech’s dining operations now
are managed by WVU Dining Services, thus eliminating the need for an outside
food service.
The work of a number of offices is being integrated into its WVU counterpart,
including the Business Office and information technology services.
The school also has hired a full-time compliance officer who works with
Admissions to make certain incoming student-athletes meet NAIA eligibility
requirements, and that the school complies with all NAIA policies and
procedures.
The president also announced the institution of two new athletic programs in the
coming year: wrestling and cross country.
— E-mail:
ckeenan@fayettetribune.com
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