Upcoming Major Fund Raising Campaign

[Salsa]

In the latest edition of the BGSU Magazine, some information is given about the upcoming campaign.

The "public phase of its comprehensive campaign" will begin with a "gala event which will be held in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union on Saturday, April 30".

The campaign is titled, "Building Dreams: The Centennial Campaign for Bowling Green State University".

Since this is described as a "comprehensive campaign", it must involve multiple goals including building projects, scholarship funds, and so on. No dollar figure was given of how much the campaign seeks to raise.

Here's some observations on my part.

1-I recall that earlier President Ribeau indicated there was already underway building projects of around $60 million that are not included in this "Centennial Campaign". I believe that he mentioned a new Admissions Center, a Theater/Film building, the Student Athlete Center, and a Science Building of some kind. Can anyone confirm this?

2-Since the "public phase" of the "Centennial Campaign" will kick off on April 30, there must be a "silent campaign" already underway. I'm hoping that the announcement of the "public phase" kick off indicates that the "silent phase" is moving well.

3-I have no idea what projects are to be included in the "Centennial Campaign". I'm sure it will be broad based. I'm hoping that it will include a new "Convocation Center" so that finally we can be assured that this is really going to happen.

So many good things are happening at BG now. Also mentioned in the Magazine was that contributions to BG for fiscal 2004 reached an all time high of $11.7 million. A new all time enrollment of 20,957 students was reached in the Fall. And the student population was described by the Admissions Director as "bigger, better, and more diverse".

Do any of you have more information about projects already underway or "Centennial Campaign" projects, including the Sebo Student Athlete Center or a Convocation Center. I heard that a final plan for the Sebo Center might be presented in May.

I think all of us can be happy about how Bowling is growing and improving in so many different ways.

[transfer2BGSU]

1-I recall that earlier President Ribeau indicated there was already underway building projects of around $60 million that are not included in this "Centennial Campaign". I believe that he mentioned a new Admissions Center, a Theater/Film building, the Student Athlete Center, and a Science Building of some kind. Can anyone confirm this?

The state has released the funding for the new Enrollment Services Building (Undergraduate Admissions) and for the new Theare/Fine Arts complex. It is my understanding they have taken the Theatre/Fine Arts building to the design stage and are looking for architects. The Enrollment Services Building will probably not be completed until after the Theatre/Fine Arts building has been completed as well as a possible renovation to Jerome Library and to Memorial Hall/Anderson Arena. The Director of Admissions would like to have all of the construction in that area completed before moving into a new building.

2-Since the "public phase" of the "Centennial Campaign" will kick off on April 30, there must be a "silent campaign" already underway. I'm hoping that the announcement of the "public phase" kick off indicates that the "silent phase" is moving well.

There is no way we would be going to the public phase if the silent campaign was not proceeding well.

A new all time enrollment of 20,957 students was reached in the Fall. And the student population was described by the Admissions Director as "bigger, better, and more diverse".

This is definitely true. This past year, Bowling Green State University increased the amount of scholarship monies available to incoming students. We were able to provide more grant monies to those students with the highest needs and good grades coming out of high school. We increased the number of students with GPA's of 3.800 and higher and 30+ ACT/1300+ SAT scores. We had a higher number of class valedictorians enroll (over twice as many as TU), an increase in the average GPA and ACT scores and we decreased the number of students enrolled in the UPAS program for the second consecutive year. We also had one of best years as far as the recruitment of students of color goes - more Hispanic and African-American students than previous semesters.

While mentioning the above, let me encourage you to remember that Monday, February 21 is PRESIDENTS' DAY and BGSU will host the 10th Annual Presidents' Day Open House. Additional information may be found at the following link:

http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/admissions/ ... edule.html

If you have a high school student, you should bring them to the Presidents' Day Open House. Additional information will be published on the web site (Academic Department Open Houses and Class Visit Lists) in the future.


NOTE FOR CURRENT BGSU STUDENTS:
Every other college and university in the state of Ohio is open and holding classes on Presidents' Day. So do not believe what you read in the BG News and hear from other students about how we are the only school in session. It just ain't true.

[UK Peregrine]

NOTE FOR CURRENT BGSU STUDENTS:
Every other college and university in the state of Ohio is open and holding classes on Presidents' Day. So do not believe what you read in the BG News and hear from other students about how we are the only school in session. It just ain't true.[/color]

UK has classes on the 21st also.

Dave, what's the status of the science (biology) building mentioned above? The last I heard is this it is the low man on the totem and likely not to occur anytime soon. Is this true?

[Schadenfreude]

The Enrollment Services Building will probably not be completed until after the Theatre/Fine Arts building has been completed as well as a possible renovation to Jerome Library and to Memorial Hall/Anderson Arena.

Does this mean the notion of a new convocation center is on the backburner indefinitely?

I'd like to see us work on making Anderson Arena better.

I wish we needed a bigger arena -- but as we saw Saturday, we don't.

If I were Master of the Universe, I'd rip out every bleacher and replace it all with chairbacks, then maybe tear out a wall (the north wall?) and put seating there to get us back to 4,000 to 5,000. (If this could be done; I assume that's a load bearing wall, complicating things).

Sure, in theory, a new convocation center could be built that replicates all we love about Anderson. But I don't believe that would happen.

Sorry if I'm too off topic here.

[BGDrew]

We need that new Theatre/Film building first. University hall is falling apart. I don't know about the library though, seems fine to me.

[Class of 61]

The Enrollment Services Building will probably not be completed until after the Theatre/Fine Arts building has been completed as well as a possible renovation to Jerome Library and to Memorial Hall/Anderson Arena.

Does this mean the notion of a new convocation center is on the backburner indefinitely?

I'd like to see us work on making Anderson Arena better.

I wish we needed a bigger arena -- but as we saw Saturday, we don't.

If I were Master of the Universe, I'd rip out every bleacher and replace it all with chairbacks, then maybe tear out a wall (the north wall?) and put seating there to get us back to 4,000 to 5,000. (If this could be done; I assume that's a load bearing wall, complicating things).

Sure, in theory, a new convocation center could be built that replicates all we love about Anderson. But I don't believe that would happen.

Sorry if I'm too off topic here.

Schad,
In a thread quite some time ago, I mentioned that the North Wall of Anderson was designed to be removed, to be replaced with increased seating when the need arose...Similar to the Doyt, which was allegedly designed to add a 2nd deck on both sides to increase seating there to 46k or so. Whether this is now possible after all these years, I don't know, but I was here when Anderson was opened and that was the "big deal" they made, about increasing seating etc.

[Schadenfreude]

Schad,
In a thread quite some time ago, I mentioned that the North Wall of Anderson was designed to be removed, to be replaced with increased seating when the need arose...Similar to the Doyt, which was allegedly designed to add a 2nd deck on both sides to increase seating there to 46k or so. Whether this is now possible after all these years, I don't know, but I was here when Anderson was opened and that was the "big deal" they made, about increasing seating etc.

That's good to know. Good.

[transfer2BGSU]

Dan, regarding the Science Building - I have absolutely no idea.

Schad - there is(was) a feasability study going on about renovating Memorial Hall/Anderson Arena. I'm sure part of the reason for the study is so we can decide what renovations to make to Memorial Hall IF a convocation center is built. The Master Plan does have a convocation center in it (so you can be relatively assured that somewhere in the next 35 years, a convocation center will be built).

BGDrew - it's my understanding that we are in the final steps of making the Theatre/Fine Arts facility a reality. But one part of that final step involves deciding the fate of the Student Servcies Building (I think the mothership is calling NWLB home).

[BGDrew]

My office is in Saddelmire, do they have plans to tear it down, renovate....?

[TG1996]

...Similar to the Doyt, which was allegedly designed to add a 2nd deck on both sides to increase seating there to 46k or so.

In some research I've done, I've read where it was even designed to grow to around SIXTY thousand seats. I wish we had a need for THAT!

I like the idea of renovating, rather than rebuilding, though, with both the Ice Arena *and* AA.

[Falcon Commander]

Will these new Indigo Kids be required to attend every Falcon Sporting event




they better !

[FliccGirl]

what's the status of the science (biology) building mentioned above? The last I heard is this it is the low man on the totem and likely not to occur anytime soon. Is this true?

We need a new science building, or at least a major renovation. I'm a biology major and chemistry minor, and know from experience that the Physical Science Building is pretty darn sad. The paint is literally peeling off the walls and pipes inside the labs... and the whole thing is pretty outdated. At times it's even a bit unsafe... like when we messed around with chemicals found in tear gas, when the labs aren't equipped with individual fume hoods. Not fun... a few people had to leave and go rinse their eyes out.

Sorry, that's just my little rant. Continue.

[transfer2BGSU]

At times it's even a bit unsafe... like when we messed around with chemicals found in tear gas, when the labs aren't equipped with individual fume hoods. Not fun... a few people had to leave and go rinse their eyes out.

If you can't put up with a little tear gas, stay out of the riot!

I was a mobility instructor with the Air Force and loved to take personnel into the gas chamber and make them to take off their gas masks. No matter how many times you tell people "DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES!" there would always be the few that would do so.