University News
Residence Hall Master Plan Phase One Includes Reorganization of Halls
October 21, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Renovations and reorganization of Western Illinois University residence halls are two of the primary focuses of the University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS) Master Plan. The reorganization plan was recently distributed to the WIU Board of Trustees and will be on the agenda for discussion and approval at the Board's December meeting.
As part of Phase I of the UHDS Master Plan, Wetzel Hall will close following the completion of the Spring 2009 semester. Currently, eight floors in Wetzel, as well as Tanner Hall, are not in use.
"In order to remain an efficient organization, while providing the best service possible to our students, we determined that closing Wetzel Hall at the end of the Spring 2009 semester will allow us to begin the initial planning to renovate facilities," explained UHDS Director of Residential Facilities Matt Bierman.
UHDS staff has worked during the past 13 months to develop its Master Plan for current and future housing facilities. According to Bierman, the decision to take Wetzel Hall, which is currently housing 443 students, off-line fits in the plan, as well as into the University's Master Plan.
"As a part of our Housing Master Plan we have conducted a facilities assessment to inventory our deferred maintenance for campus. Our total liability for our facilities is nearly $250 million. That amount is what it would take to make our current buildings 'like-new' with no changes in function," he added. "In order to make some much needed major facility enhancements, we need to reduce our deferred maintenance liability. Wetzel Hall carries a deferred maintenance liability of at least $26 million. After the building is off-line we will begin discussions about the future of Wetzel."
Housing contract renewals will begin in February 2009. Bierman said that current students residing in Wetzel Hall will participate in the housing renewals like all other students living on campus. Students living in the current First Year Experience (FYE) halls -- Thompson, Bayliss, Wetzel and Henninger halls -- will have the option of moving to an upper-division building.
"To better accommodate incoming FYE students, we have determined that Tanner will be converted into a traditional double-occupancy building that will house both freshman and upper-division students; however, it will ultimately be considered an FYE hall," Bierman stated. "Through these changes overall occupancy will not be changed due to the flexibility of room type offered by University Housing and Dining Services. We are implementing changes and renovating facilities to better serve our students by providing outstanding,
up-to-date housing options."
While super single rooms will no longer be offered in Tanner Hall beginning in Fall 2009, double rooms will be offered as single rooms, at a single room fee, as they are presently offered in Higgins and Wetzel halls. Students currently living in Tanner Hall will be given preference during the renewal process.
As part of the UHDS Master Plan, Corbin and Olson halls will undergo major rehabilitation, with construction anticipated to begin in May 2010. Phase One of the UHDS Master Plan will be posted and available for feedback by the end of the month at www.wiu.edu/student_services/housing/about/masterplan.php.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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