Comerford updates Otterbein Student Government on the Campus Center renovations

Comerford suggested a gradual plan to implement annual changes

By Will Day | Published 09/25/2019 1:11pm

President Comerford summarized the current situation with the Campus Center renovations when he spoke to the Otterbein University Student Government body at their meeting on Sept. 12. 

The plan to do a total renovation would cost around 18 million, but Comerford reported that the university has about 4.5 million to spend on this project. The university would have to take out a 10 million dollar loan, with the student fee that was approved two years ago supplementing the payment of that loan. This student fee has not been implemented. 

Comerford said, “The idea of borrowing that much money has me worried.” 

He also suggested a stand alone dining facility that would eliminate the need to renovate the current dining facilities and lower the rush to spend money on the current Campus Center. Comerford believes that if the new plan is approved, construction could begin by summer 2020. 

Recommendations from the community can be made to the Board of Trustees by the next board meeting on Oct. 11.  

Comerford then discussed the university’s strategies for the renovations. 

New goals will be designed and implemented annually. Comerford hopes to make the plan in a grassroots format, with anyone from the community able to submit plan ideas to a review board. Proposals will start in December and end in February. 

Comerford said that the strategic plan is an overreaching plan for the university and not the same as the ‘master plan,’ which focuses solely on the infrastructure of the university.