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3/19/04
Contact: Ross
C. Feltz --- 724-738-2919, cell: 412-400-6913, e-mail:
ross.feltz@sru.edu
SRU TRUSTEES
REVIEW PROJECTIONS FOR CONTINUED ENROLLMENT IMPROVEMENT AND A NEW
FRESH, EXCITING LOOK FOR CAMPUS
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.--- Slippery Rock
University’s Council of Trustees reviewed projections for
continued enrollment growth in both quantity and quality of its
student body at today’s quarterly meeting. In his report to
the council, Interim President Robert Smith also told the council
that several projects to be completed in the summer will give the
campus a “fresh and exciting look.”
“The incoming
freshman class promises to be a continuation of the extraordinary
success the university has demonstrated through its enrollment
management plan,” Smith said. “As of last week,
applications are up 5.75 percent, offers of admission are up 10.6
percent, and those in the top 25 percent of their high school class
comprise 29.6 percent of the new freshman class, which projects to
have an average SAT score very close to 1000.”
Diversity
also is expected to improve with applications up 4.8 percent and
deposits up 2.78 percent for African-American students. He also
noted that applications from out-of-state students are up 3.6
percent with transfer applications up by 107 percent. Of
out-of-state students who have made a deposit for next year, 38.5
percent have a grade-point average of 3.0 or
higher.
Along
with recent completion of a new women’s athletic facility for
softball and soccer, campus projects to be completed this summer
include a new pedestrian corridor through a highly used area of
campus that will make it “one of the most appealing sections
of campus,” he said. Other enhancements will be the new rock
waterfall and a repainting of the landmark water tower with a green
and white color scheme.
Aggressive
campus plans reviewed
“We
will have to continue an aggressive plan of transformation if we
are to meet the needs of the students we want to attract to
SRU,” Smith reported. Earlier in the day, trustees received a
comprehensive plan for four new resident halls, four renovated
halls with 1,600 suite- or semi-suite-style rooms and 400 private
bedrooms. The projected cost would be $83
million.
He
also said, “We are still pursuing a new functional student
union combined with a performing arts complex to be at the
‘crossroads’ of the campus as a signature statement
about the special relationship between student life and academic
achievement.”
“These
are ambitious changes for the campus,” Smith pointed
out.
Two new trustees
welcomed
Two
new trustees, recently appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell, were
welcomed:
Richard Christofer, former mayor of New
Castle and current manager of the New Castle Sanitary Authority,
and Robert Taylor of New Hope, an attorney and president and CEO of
the Cameron Companies, LLC, a business consulting firm.
Taylor is a 1978 graduate of SRU.
Fee increases
approved
Trustees
approved a 5-percent increase in residence hall fees and a
2.3-percent increase in campus meal plan fees for the next academic
year. Various residence hall charges will range from $1,280 per
semester for a double room to $2,045 for single room in the Rock
Apartments compared with the current year’s range of $1,219
to $1,948, respectively. Meal plans will range from $562 for a flex
plan to $1,077 for a 19-meals-per-week plan compared with the
current range of $549 to $1,052.
The
council approved a $2 million capital project financing for the
purchase of new telephone switch equipment and reviewed contracts,
fixed assets, and service and supply purchases.
As
part of their recommendation of the university 2004-05 capital
budget request to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Board of Governors, trustees are requesting $16.6 million for
renovations to Vincent Science Hall and $21.6 million for a
proposed performing arts center.
Equestrian
center named as requested by donor
Trustees
enthusiastically expressed their gratitude for a $250,000 gift from
Mrs. Ethel Carruth of Houston, Texas, and authorized its use for
construction of a 20-acre equestrian center to enhance equine
facilitated therapy as a signature program in adapted physical
activity and therapeutic recreation.
Council expressed its appreciation to Mrs.
Carruth and her daughter Dr. Carolyn Rizza, a retired SRU faculty
member who has provided leadership and advisory contributions for
the project, by voting to name the new facility the Storm Harbor
Equestrian Center. Storm Harbor is the name of Dr.
Rizza’s well-loved showhorse and fox hunter that has been
highly successful in regional hunter and jumper
shows.
Long-time
bookstore manager honored
Tom McPherson, manager of the Student Government
Association bookstore was honored with a resolution thanking him
for his 36 years of “distinguished and extensive service to
Slippery Rock University.” McPherson, of Slippery Rock, has
had “significant positive influence on our students,
especially in developing enthusiastic support for athletics and
other important events on campus,” said
Smith.
Professor
emeritus status
Trustees
were informed that professor emeritus status has been granted to
retired Assistant Professor, Fred Powell, physical education and
sports management, of Slippery Rock, with 35 years of
service.
Retirements
Trustees
acknowledged the following retirements:
Dr.
Donald Stauffer, professor, special education, of Mercer, with 35
years of service;
Barbara
Bovard, facilities and planning, of Forestville, with 34
years of service;
Ralph
Colosimo, facilities and planning, of Boyers, with 35 years
of service;
Carolyn
Leslie, career services, of New Wilmington, with 35 years of
service;
and
Michael Ross, staff, facilities and planning, of Slippery Rock,
with 14 years of service.
The next meeting of the council of
trustees will be June 11, 2004
PN, PgN,
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