Provost Richard Lynde outlined this year's academic agenda. It includes:
• Curriculum review and development
• Infusion of technology into the learning process
• Assessment of learning outcomes
• Planning for the new academic building
• Faculty hiring

A draft of the University's strategic plan was circulated for review and comment.

Click here to see pictures from Opening Day.

The University's first parking facility will be ready for occupancy in January, marking the completion of the first of several major construction projects on campus. At her Opening Day address, President Susan A. Cole updated the campus community on the status of the projects and the rewards that will come from the temporary inconvenience caused by the construction. To see pictures and renderings of the following projects, click here.

The parking structure, which will accommodate 1,100 vehicles, is 65 percent complete. "Construction has been going well despite the 'rocky' start," Cole said, referring to the fact that workers had to contend with a vast amount of rocks beneath the old parking lot's surface. The garage is expected to open in early January. Meanwhile, over the summer, the resurfacing of 12 parking lots resulted in an additional 150 spaces.

Construction of the 500-seat Alexander Kasser Theater will begin this November with an expected completion date of spring 2004. The $27.5-million project will be a state-of-the-art facility for the University's music, theater and dance programs. It is named in honor of the late Alexander Kasser, an international philanthropist and art lover whose family made a $4-million leadership gift to the project.

A swimming pool, recreation center and courts for volleyball and basketball will be included in the new residential village located on Clove Road. Construction has begun on the $77.7-million project that will add 850 beds and 550 parking spaces when completed in August 2003.

Construction has begun across from the residential facility on a New Jersey Transit train station that will accommodate the new MidTOWN Direct line into New York's Penn Station. In November, construction will begin on a 1,500-space parking garage and pedestrian walkway that will connect the garage to the station. The station and garage are expected to open in spring 2004. The project is a collaborative effort among Montclair State, New Jersey Transit and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Commuters will be able to take the MidTOWN Direct service from the Montclair Heights station beginning next month.

The women's softball team will be cheering in November when construction begins on a new $2-million softball stadium. Expected to be complete in 2003, the stadium will accommodate approximately 260 fans in bleacher-type and stadium-molded seats. It will include a press box, locker rooms and a concession area.

The new academic building, when completed in August 2005, will be the University's largest building at 280,000 gross square feet. The $68-million facility will house the School of Education and Human Services, and the Center for Teacher Preparation and Learning Technologies, for which the University has received a $750,000 federal grant as well as a $2-million gift from the ADP Foundation.

An architect has been chosen for the Children's Center and the conceptual design phase has begun. The $5-million project, which will house the Child Care Center and the Psychoeducational Center, is expected to be complete in July 2004.

Other projects on the drawing board include a $10-million Recreation Center, a second phase of residence halls that will house an additional 1,000 beds, and another parking garage, for which possible sites are being explored. Major renovations of existing buildings also will be done, beginning with Chapin, Mallory, Finley and Richardson halls.

Cole also gave an overview of upgrades being made to electrical and water utilities including steam, sewerage and gas. "These repairs have been neglected for decades," she said. "The upgrades are long overdue." Completion of the $12-million upgrade project is expected in May 2003.

Major renovations also took place over the summer, including the installation of sprinklers in all the residence halls. Panzer Gym received new front doors and lighting for the swimming pool. The replacement of new lockers and showers is underway as are repairs to bleachers at Sprague Field. Mallory and Finley halls were renovated, making new space for an M.F.A. Exhibition Area; the Early Childhood Education, Literacy in Education, and Curriculum and Teaching programs; a fully mediated classroom in Finley; and an Earth and Environmental Studies Modeling Research Lab. Richardson was renovated for the Math Education Program, Chapin Hall received a face lift and the Electronic Learning Lab opened in Sprague Library, which now has a completely wireless network.

Cole also outlined several improvements in the technology infrastructure including Web services for the financial aid module, giving students the ability to manage their accounts online, and a universal account form in which students, faculty and staff can manage their e-mail accounts. The process has begun to replace 500 computers in the general purpose computing labs as well as another 400-500 machines that will replace older, more expensive desktop computers. The old VAX technology has been replaced with high-speed servers, and progress continues to integrate MSU Internet connections with emerging NJEdge.net.

Keep informed on construction projects and watch the work progress by clicking on Rocky the Red Hawk in the hard hat on MSU's main Web site.

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