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Campus transformation

Construction updates continue across campus

This school year holds significance for Fresno State as some of the major developments it has set down in its Master Plan are well underway. The Master Plan includes all the building projects, walkways and renovations that will transform the university into a more effective and convenient environment for learning and for community. Some of these projects have been proposed in order to modernize facilities when older structures have become obsolete. Several projects are designed to beautify the campus and make it easier and safer for students to navigate the grounds. Although a long-term goal of 20 years has been suggested as adequate to complete the improvements, many are contingent upon funds and necessity in the future. However, some very important developments such as the library are already wrapping up while some are well under way this semester.

Students may notice visible progress on the following projects:

Henry Madden Library
• Construction is expected to be complete on January 1 aside from some minor landscaping.

• The elliptical glass entrance will also be an event room on the second floor. Groups on or off campus may reserve it. It will be ideal for meetings, concerts, literature readings and so on. It is in an ideal location next to the café.

• The South Wing is undergoing some major renovation and that is where most of the focus is right now.

• Students may expect a lot of landscaping in the next couple of months, especially in the Peace Garden.

• The Peace Garden is expected to be finished at the same time as the library.

• A smaller children’s garden will be put in front of the current South Wing entrance, which will no longer be there upon completion of project. There will only be the north entrance.

• The lower level of the North Wing and as well the first floor will contain books, government documents, and maps at the west end. All of the material is presently in place and available upon check out.

• Students may check information out at Room UC123. The material usually arrives the same day or sometimes within hours.

• The second floor of the North Wing will be a study space. At the east end will be the café and Starbucks. At the west end is what’s called Studio 2.

• Studio 2 will be at the west end as an interactive learning lab where students can learn about Technology. There are two classrooms as well that will be available upon request.

• Sunlight is meant to shine through the glass at the north end of the North Wing to light the study area on the second and third floors. A space between the glass and the floor will allow daylight to shine directly through the first, second and third floors, saving on lighting costs and heating.

• A copper weaving will be added to the front elliptical entrance by completion.

• At the west end of the North Wing on the third floor will be an elder’s room made possible by the Table Mountain Casino. This will be a general event room where people may conduct craft sessions or hold meetings. It is the biggest room in the entire library.

• All of the plumbing, heating and electrical have been installed and are said to be working properly. A later inspection will be done to confirm this.

• The elevators, while functioning, are only available to Swinerton, the contractor responsible for the development. In the next few months, it will be open to permitted staff members making access to books quicker and more convenient.

• Assistance to disabled students will be in the South Wing.

• Also available in the South Wing will be a curriculum and juvenile area on the third floor. There will also be additional study space.

• On the second floor, west end, there will be a production lab offering access to high end equipment such as photo software.

Cedar and Barstow

• The additional turnout/U-turn lane that was north of the intersection has been replaced by a longer turn lane at the intersection. The turn lane can now handle twice the capacity.

• The old turn lane was roughly 400 feet north of the light heading towards Shaw.

• The project started around the 7th and was completed on the 19th. It will be in full use when school begins.

• This was done through funds from the city of Fresno under the coordination of Administrator of Plant Operations Bob Boyd.

• According to Devon Fullner, Director of Facilities Management with Plant Preparations, this was done because the north side of the intersection was so congested from so many vehicles using the old turn lane.

• There has also been talk about extending the green light duration to allow more cars to go through at a time.

Campus Pointe

• 160,000 square feet of retail space

• 160,000 square feet of office space

• Hyatt Place Hotel with 197 rooms and additional meeting chambers

• 540 apartments including 180 units for senior housing

• 14-screen movie theater that seats 27,000

• There will be a total of 2,815 parking spots for the complex.

While you were out

The semester has begun. Over the weekend many students moved into the dorms and started preparing for classes while memories of summer began to fade. But for Fresno State, some of those memories are hard to forget. With the baseball team clinching its first national title, the band traveling to Beijing to participate in the Olympics and a visit from presidential candidate John McCain, the university had an eventful summer. In this issue you will find updates on all the big events that happened while you were away.

‘It’s a difficult decision’

The 2007-2008 school year was a tumultuous one for University President John D. Welty. It started with a string of multi-million dollar verdicts in various athletics department lawsuits that had many calling for Welty’s resignation. It ends with Welty’s decision to increase the IRA fee after weeks of student debate. The Collegian sat down with Welty to discuss why he made this decision, and what he thinks this year has meant.

Lui: How do you plan on making your decision regarding the IRA fee increase?

Welty: I have spent considerable time reviewing both the IRA requests that have come in for various academic activities and projects and looking at several years now where there’s not been sufficient revenue to fund those projects. And also, with regards to athletics I reviewed thoroughly the commission on athletic financing report that was issued earlier this year …

Then, in addition to that, I reviewed some of the long-term projections for the athletic budget, so this is a tremendous amount of data and really multi-year points that need to be reviewed as we make that decision.

L: Why did you decide to make that decision?

W: Some of the club projects that couldn’t be funded because … requests for funds are almost four times as great as the dollars that are available from that part of the budget. With regard to athletics, it’s clear that … most [mid-size Division I programs] depend upon a significant student fee in order to operate. With the increase of $32 for athletics in our case it still will be well below the average fee that comparable institutions charge.

L: What would you say to students who say that a majority of students voted down the increase in the referendum?

W: I think that, first of all, it’s important that I don’t take the issue of raising student fees lightly. It’s a difficult decision.

I weighed certainly the advice that ASI provided. They endorsed it after reviewing thoroughly the referendum which unfortunately was … a very small number of students actually voting on that issue, and the student fee committee, which reviewed the issue I think in-depth after hearing various points of view from that if we are going to continue to have academic programs such as the music, the arts, theatre, athletics we are going to have to have additional student fee revenue.

L: What about the fee increases in light of the California budget cuts?

W: As you know, the state faces severe fiscal issues and in fact, our [board of trustees] next week will consider a possible fee increase and part of the steps to deal with the budget issues. Again, it’s an issue of, if you look at what students pay at comparable public universities across the country, California’s well below those fees.

At the same time, any fee increases is a very difficult step to take for anyone and I think what our board is trying to do is make sure we continue to provide the classes, quality educational experience for students.

L: Do you know how much the fee increase would be that they’re looking at?

W: The proposal is a 10 percent fee increase.

L: Is the school doing anything to try and fight the budget cuts?

W: Yes, I and many others have spent several hours both meeting with legislators locally and in Sacramento, writing letters, making it clear that the state needs to give higher education priority and although the decisions have not yet been made on the budget, I’m hopeful that priority will be recognized by the legislature and the governor.

L: Looking ahead, what are you looking forward to about the fall semester?

W: Next year I think promises to be an exciting year. We will open our new library next year, which I think will be a tremendous addition for students and faculty and the campus. I’ve had an opportunity to get a sneak tour and it’s clear that that facility is going to provide the most up to date library facilities to students and the largest library in your system.

L: What do you think the addition of Campus Pointe will mean for students?

W: I think first of all it will provide for those who want housing near the campus, another housing option for students … In addition to that, there’ll be some commercial activity there like grocery stores and other kinds of retail outlets that’ll make it convenient for students to get access.

There’ll be a theater there that again provides recreational opportunity. In addition to that, when the complex is done there will be additional student internship opportunities and we’re in the process of developing a program in hospitality management so students will be able to intern at the hotel.

We’re also talking to a bank about possibly creating a student bank so students would actually be able to get a complete bank … actually run a bank in that facility and get that experience. And then of course there’ll be lots of new jobs that’ll be open for students. I think it’ll be a place where students will spend a lot of time doing a variety of things.

L: What are your thoughts about the past school year?

W: This has been a difficult and painful year, particularly as it relates to court issues that we faced in the athletics program. I regret that we had those issues and I think we have taken steps to address them and under new leadership in athletics with Thomas Boeh and senior associate Betsy Mosher. I think there’s been some tremendous strides made to strengthen our program and to address issues that have been identified in the past.

However, I think some of those cases have also overshadowed some other very significant things that have happened on campus. Our new independent doctoral program was begun. Our new joint program of physical therapy will graduate its first students.

We also had numerous students do some incredible things. Craig School students have won recent awards … the MBA students have competed and won a national contest. We’ve had other students … a student who won an entrepreneurship awards … who actually established her own business named Stephanie Reilly and she’s an incredible example of what students can do when given the opportunity.

The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning has been funded so that really assures for us a national leadership role in providing service learning and community engagement opportunities for students.

The gift that we received to expand the farm market will again be another tremendous addition to the campus to serve all students and faculty.

L: Do you see yourself retiring anytime soon?

W: I don’t really see that in the immediate horizon, no. There’s a lot to be done and I want to make sure that we complete implementation of our plan for excellence … We have some excellent people here who are working very hard and I plan to continue to provide some support to them as I can.

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