Strategic Priority 5

Invest in a campus-wide environment that fosters living-learning opportunities.

2024 Update and Accomplishments

Objective: Attend to the structural/facilities needs of the historic west side of campus

• Renovations to KOM and Rutledge Hall
  • Project design is completed. Construction to start in summer 2024 with estimated completion in summer of 2026
  • Project will provide renovations to both KOM and Rutledge Hall
  • KOM Renovation
    • Demolition of the Midgett Building will make way to a new lobby and entry on the north side of the building
    • KOM will continue to serve the Mathematics, Computer Science, and Data Science Departments
  • Rutledge Hall
    • A new entry will be added on the west side of the building and will include an addition of an elevator to the building
    • Converted from a student housing into the new home for University College

Objective: Change the name of Forrest Hall

• Renaming of Forrest Hall
  • MTSU has requested to the Tennessee Historical Commission to change the name of Forrest Hall to “ROTC Building”

Objective: Create additional/newer on-campus housing options

• New Student Housing Project
  • Currently working on drafting a RFP solicitation and standards document for a public-private partnership (P3) to provide new student housing
  • Existing Womack Lane student housing to be demolished to provide a site for current and future student housing expansion
    First phase of development includes new facilities with 500-550 beds on the Womack Lane site
  • RFP for P3 partnership will be advertised in summer 2024

2022-2023 Update and Accomplishments

• Internal approval has been given to go forward with the Campus Quadrangle Improvements project ($1,600,000 total project estimate) that will carry out renovations to the quadrangle between Davis Science and Bragg. Scope of work includes renovation to sidewalks and outdoor gathering spaces along this quad.
• MTSU Housing is currently studying debt capacity in efforts to fund a new dormitory to be located at the existing site of Womack Lane Apartments. Estimated total project budget is $40,000,000. Project time frame and detailed project programming are unknown at this time.
• Looking to form a committee to review opportunities for a once a week “community hour.”
• Plans are being developed to improve outside space of the Business and Aerospace Building.
• Initial discussions have been had on renovating the State Farm Lecture Hall.
• The MTSU Board of Trustees unanimously voted in September 2021 to support the renaming effort for Forrest Hall. James Floyd, General Counsel, is in the process of preparing documents to request renaming of Forrest Hall to be submitted to the Tennessee Historical Commission.
• Kathleen Schmand, dean of Walker Library, is reviewing options to increase usage and elevate profile of the Library and extending open hours on the weekend.
• The FY22/23 Capital Outlay request project, Kirksey Old Main and Rutledge Hall Renovations, has been included in Governor Bill Lee’s FY22/23 recommended budget. This $54,300,000 project includes comprehensive renovations to both KOM and Rutledge Hall. If the TN General Assembly approves this budget item, this project will commence in July 2022.
• Jones College of Business is working on a pilot program to accomplish a significant increase in EXL courses.
• Conduct a review of current social media and messaging efforts, with a goal of improving communication to students, on-campus, and off-campus.
• The Marketing and Communications staff have been enhancing social media and messaging in line with yield management efforts.
• DNJ has adopted “MTSU Mondays” and True Blue TV and events streaming are being expanded.
• Jones College “Lifelong Learning” Series continues.

Work Group

Co-Chair: Joyce Heames	Jones College of Business
Co-Chair: Bill Waits	Campus Planning
Grover Baker	Walker Library
David Edgar	Academic Space Planning
Keith Gamble	Jones College of Business
John Maynor	College of Liberal Arts
John Ouellette	College of Media and Entertainment
Philip Phillips	Honors College
Michelle Safewright	Campus Housing
John Wallin	College of Basic and Applied Sciences