Campus Resources and Planning Committee

November 12, 2010

Present: Zak Forde, Bart Finzel, Pam Gades, Mark Privratsky, Sara Haugen, LeAnn Dean,

Maddy Maxeiner, Dave Aronson, Carol Marxen, Martin Seggelke,

Dave Swenson, Andy Sharpe, Margaret Kuchenreuther, Syndey Sweep,

Josh Preston

Guests: Jim Hall, Henry Fulda, Sandy Olson-Loy

Minutes October 8, October 22 and November 5 approved as presented.

Agenda for future meetings include:

November 19 – discussion of stimulus funded positions and the expected outcome when those funds disappear

November 26 – no meeting

December 3 – action on recommendation of capital projects; begin budget review

Agenda for meeting today:

CRPC will take action on Sports Management major and hear about future capital requests, including the proposed Green Living dormitory and the Learning Commons/Briggs library proposal.

Sports Management Major

Bart asked if there were questions/concerns after hearing the proposal from last week. Given the demands of the Sports Management major proposal on the econ/management area, Margaret wondered if the discipline is equipped to handle the additional load. Bart responded that sports management people have worked very closely with the management discipline in drafting the proposal. Given the current enrollment, he believes the existing staff can handle the load.

Carol Marxen made a motion to endorse the creation of the sports management major. Second by Andy Sharpe. Motion unanimously approved.

Green Prairie Living and Learning Community

Sandy Olson-Loy distributed handouts that included information about the proposed facility and the projected financing of the project

Background

A new residential life Green Prairie Living and Learning Community (GPLC) will leverage UMM student recruitment and retention, and our green campus and renewable energy initiatives. The GPLC will provide contemporary undergraduate student housing during the academic year, replacing Blakely Hall. The project will advance Morris sustainability partnerships through integrated green living and learning spaces, including a summer focus on collaborative research, scholarship, and outreach related to renewable energy and sustainability.

Additionally, this would be the first new residence hall construction at Morris since the early 1970’s. It includes contemporary suite-style living space for 80 undergraduate students during the academic year and adult summer program participants; suites include four private sleeping rooms and a shared living space and bathroom. Some single rooms with private baths will be provided. The building would be UMM’s first fully accessible and only air-conditioned residence hall environment. There is a design for future additions to house 30-40 students to support projected enrollment growth and increase the portion of students living in on-campus housing. Living/learning spaces will be designed as smart learning environments and models for building community—centrally and on each wing of each floor with community kitchens, with outdoor patios and a community garden. It will include research and demonstration opportunities being a model platform for sustainable living with green building design features including heating/cooling via solar, wind, and biomass; water conservation; natural lighting; local sustainable materials, covered community bike rakes; community vegetable gardens; resident education programs; and real-time energy monitoring systems. It will be either LEED gold or platinum.

The Green Prairie proforma works because revenues support the current program and the model demonstrates the capacity to cover the additional debt. UMM enrollment and housing numbers are up. Residence Hall Fall 2010 occupancy is 842 students; up 95 students over Fall 2008. In Fall 2010, Residential Life is at 92% of recommended capacity with Blakely Hall back on line for short-term housing. With projected enrollment increases, housing demand will meet or exceed capacity (including Blakely) by Fall 2011 and 2012. Summer occupancy and revenues are up from students, classes/camps/conferences, visiting researchers, scholars and guests. Our new Conferences and Events office is collaborating with Residential Life to support increased growth in summer occupancy and use of the campus.

Briggs Library Pre-Design Overview

Dave Aronson distributed information about the pre design overview that was completed in the spring of 2005. Some of the key concepts included moving the circulation desk to the ground floor; creating a new entrance on the east with a new elevator and stair tower so there would be an on grade access from the north and west; and an addition to the north structurally designed for the high density storage to preserve space. Construction options include trying to maintain services in the building during construction by moving key functions to one area while construction is done in another area or totally vacate the library to various swing spaces and allow a contractor to move in and complete the project as soon as possible. Cost savings from allowing the contractor to proceed quickly by vacating the space may be sufficient to build a storage facility on campus.

In 2005, the construction cost estimate by Donlar was about 10 M. Total project cost estimate by CPPM was about 16.5 M.

LeAnn distributed background information on the concept of a learning commons. She said we started thinking about the vision of learning commons in 2006 with the concept of providing better services to students by bringing services together. In 2008, Dave Swenson and LeAnn started thinking about the “heart of the campus” and create a facility with collaboration of the Briggs Library and the Student Center. Additionally, the post gateway task force supported the idea of a learning commons. When the second phase of the Library was finished in 1974, it was determined it would be adequate for 20 years. We now have twice the size collection the Library was designed for and the needs—both structurally and functionally—have changed considerably. She believes it is time to revisit the needs of the Library.

Dave Swenson suggested we look at other possibilities for swing space in the community, e.g. the Coborns building, rather than building something on campus to function as swing space.