WMU News

Public sessions on master plan announced

April 15, 1999

KALAMAZOO-Members of the Western Michigan University community and the public are invited to review and provide feedback next week on preliminary concepts for a master plan being developed for WMU by a team of consultants.

The team, led by Richard Rigterink of JJR Inc. of Ann Arbor, will make two presentations on planning for the physical organization and development of the campus. Both will take place in the Putney Auditorium, Room 1010, of WMU's Fetzer Center.

One, primarily for the University community, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 20. The other, primarily for the public, including residents of nearby neighborhoods, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22.

Rigterink will present three initial concepts to help WMU address several planning issues for its West, North, East and South campuses. West Campus is west of Stadium Drive; North Campus includes Goldsworth Valley; East Campus is east of Stadium Drive and north of Oliver Street; and South Campus is south of Oliver Street between Stadium Drive and Oakland Drive.

Planning issues include those affecting:

The master planning process involves representatives of all campus constituencies, including students, faculty and staff, as well as representatives of the community. Participants are organized into a policy committee and three focus groups, with whom Rigterink and others at JJR have met about every six weeks since Feb. 2. The policy committee is headed by Robert M. Beam, vice president for business and finance.

Using feedback from those groups and other information, JJR developed concepts for
presentation and review. Work on a master plan is part of a University-wide planning process initiated last fall by WMU President Elson S. Floyd. The process also focuses on academic programs, facilities and services, and fund raising.

"It is important for members of both the University and larger communities to participate actively in this planning process," Floyd said. "When I became president last August, I made it clear that WMU would listen to the interests and concerns of the campus and the public, including our neighbors, and these presentations are part of that commitment."

There are several ways interested persons may get more information and provide feedback. Those with access to the World Wide Web may view drawings of each of JJR's three concepts at <www.wmich.edu/masterplan>, beginning the week of April 19. Those interested may provide feedback by e-mail directly to JJR at <wmu_masterplan@aa.smithgroup.com>.

Persons also may respond by writing to: Richard Rigterink, JJR Inc., 110 Miller Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. They also may respond to Evie Asken, director of campus planning, by e-mail at <evie.asken@wmich.edu> or by writing her at: Office of Campus Planning, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI 49008.

Media contact: Mike Matthews, 616 387-8400, michael.matthews@wmich.edu


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