FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, 304-696-7153
 

Addition of multipurpose field, alumni center/foundation hall
gives different look to Marshall University’s Huntington campus 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Summer time means vacation time for most Marshall University students, but that does not mean all has been quiet the past three months on the Huntington campus.

Marshall workers have been busy throughout the summer making repairs, upgrades and renovations big and small from one end of campus to the other. More than 1,100 gallons of paint have been applied indoors and out, modifications have been made to many of the restrooms in the academic buildings to make them ADA compliant, sidewalks have been repaired, roofs replaced, air conditioning systems upgraded, landscaping improved and lighting upgraded. And there’s much more.   

Most noticeable to those students and faculty returning to classes on Monday, Aug. 24 is a 160-foot by 290-foot multipurpose field located near the Marshall Recreation Center just east of the First-Year Residence Halls.

The field, covered by TerraSport Turf, which is manufactured by Spectra Sports Surfaces, will be used for numerous activities, but mainly as a practice area for the Marching Thunder and a home for intramural sports.

David Stewart, director of campus recreation, said the Marshall Recreation Center will schedule activities on the field while the Marshall physical plant will maintain it.

“We want to maximize (organized) usage, but also maintain some open time where students can go out and maybe kick a football around,” Stewart said. “It’s going to be great for intramurals because we were down at Veterans Memorial Field House, which is 7/10th of a mile from campus.”

Another facility under construction that has changed drastically in recent months is the new Erickson Alumni Center and Marshall University Foundation Hall, located on the corner of 5th Avenue and John Marshall Drive. Construction is expected to be completed in November.

Highlights of the three-story, 33,000-square-foot facility, include:

  • an alumni lounge;
  • a large hall for meetings and social events;
  • video and telephone conferencing in the meeting rooms;
  • a Heritage Room where information about alumni and the history of Marshall University can be displayed;
  • an architectural design that emphasizes an open and inviting appearance;
  • a functional workspace for the Alumni Relations, Development and Foundation staffs.

Here is a brief look at other changes for the new academic year:

Administrative changes

Marshall filled numerous administrative positions in academics since May 1. They include:

·         Dr. Charles Somerville, dean of Marshall’s College of Science, effective July 1. Before being named dean, Somerville was a professor of biological sciences at Marshall.

·         Dr. Mary Todd, founding dean of the Marshall University Honors College, effective Aug. 1. Before being named dean, she was vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio.

·         Dr. Donna J. Spindel, dean of the Marshall University Graduate College, effective July 1. Before being named dean, she was interim chair of Marshall’s English Department.

·         Dr. Jamie Warner, associate dean for Marshall’s College of Liberal Arts, effective July 1. Before being named associate dean, she was an associate professor of political science at Marshall.

·         Dr. Chong Kim, dean of Marshall’s Lewis College of Business, effective July 1. Before being named dean, Kim was interim dean of the College of Business.

·         Dr. Rudy Pauley, associate vice president for outreach and continuing studies at Marshall, effective July 1. Before being named to his new position, Pauley was interim dean of the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development.

·         Dr. Monica Brooks, assistant vice president for information technology: Online learning and libraries at Marshall University, effective July 1. Before being named assistant VP, Brooks was MUOnline director of instructional design skills and assessment.

·         Dr. David Castleberry, associate dean of Marshall’s College of Fine Arts, effective July 1. Castleberry remains a professor and director of choral activities in the Marshall University Department of Music.

Emergency notification system

Marshall University announced this summer a new partnership with Everbridge for emergency notifications of faculty, staff and students via text messages, e-mail and telephone.

“With this service, we’ve acquired the ability to quickly communicate emergency and safety-related information through multiple channels with a single click,” said Dr. Jan Fox, senior vice president for information technology/chief information officer for the university.

Persons who already signed up for emergency text messages from Marshall have been automatically transferred to the new system, according to Jon B. Cutler, chief information security officer at Marshall. In addition, new and existing students are invited to provide alternative means of contact, such as a secondary e-mail address or cell phone number, that can be added to the system.

“Our primary objective in implementing this new service is protecting the safety and health of university community members,” said Bill Bissett, the university’s chief of staff and senior vice president for communications. “The more easily we can communicate vital information, and the more ways we have to contact our community members, the better.”

Everbridge, formerly known as 3n Global, is a leading provider of emergency notification services to colleges and universities, health care systems, government agencies and municipalities.

For more information, visit www.marshall.edu/emergency/mualert.

Academic programs

Marshall University has added four new degree programs for 2009-10. They include: Early Childhood Education, BA; Medical Imaging, BS; Exercise Science, BS, and Athletic Training, BS. Anthropology is a new major under the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

New areas of emphasis this year include:

·         English major – Literature and Creative Writing;

·         RBA program – Computer Forensics; Creative Writing Option; Game Development; Literature Option in English; Training & Development for Organizations; Web Application Development, and Women’s Studies;

·         Exercise Science major – Exercise Physiology, Health and Wellness, and Strength and Conditioning;

·         Athletic Training major – Athletic Training Comprehensive; Athletic Training Pre-Physical Therapy; Athletic Training Pre-Physicians Assistant; Athletic Training Pre-Chiropractic; Athletic Training Pre-Med; Athletic Training Occupational Safety & Health, and Athletic Training Safety.

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