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Construction, commencement and career recruitments at YSU
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State University’s Finance and Facilities Committee announced Wick Avenue construction will be completed by September of this year, “weather permitting.”
Rich White, university director of planning and construction, and John Hyden, executive director of facilities and support services, gave project updates during the committee meeting Wednesday.
Hyden said the Hallmark housing project on Lincoln Avenue is progressing well after some setbacks.
The privately funded project will be complete with a 220-bed facility including a game room, lounge area, clubhouse, fitness center and computer lab.
“Despite some mistakes in the beginning, we are now in very good shape on this [project] with work done all the way through this winter,” Hyden said. “We should be ready in time for fall rush.”
University President Jim Tressel said 70 percent of the beds already are reserved.
In addition to the construction news, the committee announced the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, a $5 million expenditure, is expected to be completed by July of this year.
Another completion for YSU is the selection of two commencement speakers – Presley Gillespie and George Young.
Gillespie and Young, both YSU graduates, will receive honorary doctorate degrees at the spring graduation, pending trustees approval in today’s trustee meeting.
The Academic and Student Affairs committee members also approved changing the human performance and exercise science department name to kinesiology and sports medicine. Trustees will make the final decision during the trustee meeting.
In other university business, the University Affairs Committee approved resolutions, pending trustee approval, to recruit an associate provost for student success; an executive director for Maag Library; and an associate vice president for technology and chief information officer. The positions pay between $97,000 and $131,000; $99,000 and $134,000; and $145,000 and $175,000, respectively.