Dr. Bill Pink announced many upcoming plans and priorities to improve the campus including a look at the first residence hall in Michigan to be attached to a football stadium.
One hundred students and faculty members filled the David L. Eisler Center’s Ballroom to hear the annual Founders’ Day address presented by Dr. Pink to hear about the current plans and goals the university has in store.
During this year’s Founder’s Day address, Pink presented a shift in how finances are being used at Ferris. He described how a new financial model was created this year to ensure the budget process was inclusive of all areas on campus.
Pink announced the plans to build a new residence hall that is attached to the football stadium.
“We are the first university in the state to put a residence hall right in the midst of the footprint of one of our athletic complexes, which in this case is the football field,” Pink said. “That has a different level of attraction for those students who will be coming in, and has a different level of service all together.”
Pink went on to emphasize that the new hall will house 260 to 280 students as well as have a more modern feel.
Another key point was the total number of student credit hours being taken is higher than in previous years. He explained how enrollment is getting the students there and overall student retention is something that needs to be focused on. To focus on the retention of current and future students, Pink announced the plans to build a new residence hall that is attached to the football stadium and even a first look at a new indoor stadium.
This new athletic complex will prove useful to student-athletes across campus as well as spectators. Not only will athletes be able to practice year-round, but it gives them the ability to have locker rooms that are near their facilities.
The Founder’s Day address was also an opportunity for students to come together and listen to the upcoming plans for Ferris during the continuation of their education. Students also have the opportunity to meet and talk with the president of their university and share their thoughts and opinions on upcoming plans.
Pink believed it is important for students to attend the Founder’s Day address so that they can better understand where the university is leading them.
“It gives them a good idea of, just from a leadership standpoint, what we’re thinking and where we’re pushing as far as the university is concerned,” Pink said. “And I think for students to understand how the university is focused and what we’re focused on, I think that’s really helpful.”
One of the students in the crowd was construction management freshman Miah Lamancusa. She is the most excited about the new facilities since she heard a little about them at her summer construction job.
She believes that it is important for students to come to the Founder’s Day address and understand what is happening at their school.
“I think it’s really important for them to stay in the loop,” Lamancusa said. “These new facilities are creating retention for people.”
Construction management freshman Ellie Kluge attended the Founder’s Day address and learned a lot about the campus by going to the speech. She believes it is good to come to these events to be able to tell other students and possible students in the future.
Her favorite part of the speech was about the announcement of the new residential living and the indoor facility for sports that is going to be built.
“I have friends that are playing softball and it kind of stinks that at other schools they would have to play outside,” Kluge said. “I think it very special to get to go play inside.”
Kluge also mentioned how she hopes for other updates on the current residence halls at Ferris and how updating the current residence halls could bring in a lot of students.
“For other students coming in, I think something that could change is the dorm rooms,” Kluge said. “I am a transfer student, and I didn’t want to come here last year because I did not want to live in the dorm rooms.”
Pink’s hope with the announcement for these new buildings on campus was to continue to have Ferris grow and retain more students by trying to appeal to incoming students with these unique buildings.