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EMU to Explore New Science Facility
Campus facilities were in the spotlight at the quarterly meeting of the EMU board of trustees Friday and Saturday, Mar. 23-24.
The 16-member governing body authorized the administration to proceed with planning and fundraising for the construction of new laboratory space and upgrade of EMU’s Suter Science Center.
The current building, constructed in 1968, houses classrooms, laboratories, a 300-seat auditorium and the Brackbill Planetarium and Hostetter Museum of Natural History.
The board action includes acceptance of a proposal from the architectural firm, Troyer and Associates, which features securing Earl Walls Associates as science facilities consultants.
The proposal will result in conceptual plans and cost estimates for the project.
'Science Center served us well'
"Suter Science Center has served us well,” said EMU President Loren E. Swartzendruber, noting that literally hundreds of doctors, scientists and mathematicians are serving around the world having built their careers on a foundation begun in that building.
"But to continue to attract quality students we must be able to provide a study environment – particularly laboratories – that meet today’s building codes and are conducive to the level of research and academic excellence EMU faculty are here to mentor them through."
At the end of this initial planning phase, the board will receive a progress report and set a total project budget at a later meeting.
Godshall Appointed to Third Term
In other business the board of trustees approved a recommendation from Mennonite Education Agency to appoint Susan Godshall to her third term as a trustee.
In a subsequent action the trustees elected Godshall to her second three-year term as board chair, beginning July 1, 2007.
Godshall of Mount Joy, Pa., joined the EMU board of trustees in 1998 as one of several representatives from Lancaster (PA) Mennonite Conference; she has served as chair since June 2004.
Seminary Plans
The board heard an update from seminary dean Ervin R. Stutzman on interest from the Mennonite Church in Ethiopia (Meserete Kristos) to establish a seminary-level training program there and to connect with Eastern Mennonite Seminary in this endeavor.
Dr. Stutzman is meeting with the LINK Board, a liaison group between supporters in North America and the Meserete Kristos College in Ethiopia.
He noted that a potential donor with a connection to Ethiopia has offered matching funds to help enable the launch of a two-year project to help provide six seminary-level courses on the Meserete Kristos College campus in Ethiopia.
