There is a popular belief that university campuses are deserted during the summer months. I can assure you it is not the case at Illinois State University—and especially not this past summer.
Appears InFrom May to August, nearly every corner of campus was a flurry of activity. Our facilities staff were especially busy, as a steady hum of power tools and heavy machinery could be heard near and far, advancing new construction projects, renovations, and technology upgrades.
My curiosity led me on walks around campus to catch a glimpse of the progress being made on these projects, and I was lucky enough to occasionally receive impromptu progress reports from the workers on-site.
This work is all being done to enhance the Redbird experience for our talented students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. As is the case with all major campus initiatives, these construction projects involve individuals representing units across campus, and I’m thankful for those efforts. I proudly share in the excitement I’ve already heard from students this fall as they anticipate and experience new and improved spaces.
In June, we broke ground on the Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Center. The revitalized, high-tech space will allow the college to eventually increase its enrollment by 400 students and help meet a critical workforce demand for nurses.
In September, we dedicated the Athletics Indoor Practice Facility, a space to be utilized by our intercollegiate athletics teams and academic programs. Redbird student-athletes just won their fourth-straight Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championship, and I’m eager to see the new heights to which they soar with the additional opportunities provided by this game-changing facility.
We’re growing and evolving beyond the borders of our campus, too. In August, we co-hosted with our partner, Memorial Health, a ribbon cutting for Mennonite College of Nursing’s Springfield location. It will increase MCN’s capacity and address the nationwide nursing shortage.
More construction projects and upgrades are on the way as we are driven to meet the needs of the Redbird community. To that end, I’ve continued to meet with students and other Redbirds to learn what is important to them. I gladly share that feedback with our leadership team as we chart a course for our future.
In August, we welcomed another large, talented, and diverse group of new students to our campus. I’ve taken great pleasure in meeting many of them and look forward to meeting more over the coming months and years. We want the Illinois State they encounter upon arrival to be even better by the time they walk across the commencement stage. Together, through hard work and collaboration, we’ll do just that.
