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(HUNTSVILLE,AL) – -Huntsville, Ala. —- The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Alabama A&M University met Friday, March 2, in the Clyde Foster Auditorium of the College of Business and Public Affairs.
President Pro Tempore Jerome B. Williams noted that a committee had been established for the naming of buildings and structures. Former trustee Lucien Blankenship chairs the committee, and members include Albert Benifield, Jr., president of the AAMU Alumni Association, Inc., and Dr. Jeanette Jones, president of the Faculty Senate.
Williams also said that an ad hoc committee set up to provide recommendations for the demolition or repurposing of currently vacant buildings will include Trustees John Hackett, Jr. (chair), Ginger Harper, Kevin Ball and Perry Jones. The Business and Finance committee received approval to purchase the property located at 128 Chase Road for $68,000.
During the session, the Executive Committee approved requests from the Academic Affairs component to make the following revisions to curriculum offerings: 1) add the M.S. degree in mechanical engineering; 2) add the MBA 4+1 degree program; 3) add concentrations in general mechanical engineering and environmental management; and 4) to place on “inactive status” the concentration program in school psychology and the certification program in school psychometry. Additionally, the AAMU RISE Board will now include President Pro Tem Williams among its members.
Brief informational Items were presented by Archie Tucker, vice president for marketing, communication and advancement; Dr. Kimberley Marshall, chief information officer; Dr. Gary Crosby, vice president for student affairs. There also were no action items from the Audit and Investment, Athletics, and Governance committees.
Trustees went into executive session at 11 a.m. to receive legal briefings on pending legal matters and to receive legal advice. The meeting resumed at 12:51 p.m. The Board is “looking forward to continued and sustained growth” following its positive evaluation of AAMU President Andrew Hugine, Jr., in light of reaffirmation of accreditation, enrollment increases, fundraising enhancements, U.S. Department of Education fundraising package resulting in the erection of a $34 million residence hall and overall financial integrity of the institution.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is Friday, June 22, at 10 a.m. in the Clyde Foster Auditorium of the College of Business and Public Affairs. Subcommittees will meet on Thursday, June 21, in the President’s Board Room.
Following the trustee meeting, AAMU trustees, officials, elected officials and other constituents ceremonially “cut the ribbon” at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 2, to the new $34 million residence hall that will house 580 students in suite-style, state of the art accommodations. The financing of the project (construction and furnishings) was made possible through the U.S. Department of Education HBCU Capital Access Program.
AAMU experienced a significant increase in its enrollment over the past five years. In 2015 and 2016, the University secured record enrollments in its freshman class. By Fall 2017, AAMU’s enrollment surpassed the 6,000-student mark. The enrollment increase, coupled with overall financial strength of the institution, positioned the University to proceed with the construction of the facility.
Located on Meridian Street, adjacent to the AAMU Student Health and Wellness Center, the four-story 580-bed structure includes an automation system that monitors occupancy through motion sensors, thus reducing the amount of energy use when rooms are not occupied. The facility includes 130 four-person double units ($3,000 per semester), as well as single quads ($3,550 per semester). The design-style is a mix of traditional with stately columns and an A-line roof, as well as modern with glass and metal features.
Throughout the entire planning and design phases, AAMU officials ensured that students were involved in the entire process. According to AAMU President Andrew Hugine, Jr., students were an integral part of the building committee and provided important perspectives on the design of the facility, space allocation and even furniture design and selection.
The facility was designed by Moody-Nolan and Chasm Architecture Firms, with Wiregrass Construction Company providing the site package. Erected by FITE Construction Company, with Turner Construction as project manager, the residence hall also features a large storm shelter, meeting rooms, study areas, advanced tech laundry rooms, modern furnishings and specialized rooms for residence hall assistants and hall director.
AAMU officials, trustees and students held a ground breaking for the 14-month project on Thursday, August 18, 2016. The facility accepted its first students and assumed full operation on January 7, 2018.
The construction of the new residence hall and major infrastructure upgrades resulted in an economic impact of $60 million, created 600 new jobs and generated tax revenues of $2.1 million. The project had a significant impact on the educational environment of the university, as well as served as an economic boast for Madison County, Huntsville, and particularly North Huntsville.
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