Monday, February 16, 2009
The Hale Achievement Center is getting a makeover.
By June, the construction that led to detours and a loss of spaces in the Burge Union parking lot will be completed.
There is a lot of construction around Allen Fieldhouse, but Jayhawk fans need not worry. The construction is an expansion of the Wagnor Student Athlete Center. The Associate Athletics Director for Student Support, Paul Buskirk, insists that the development will help student athletes to succeed academically and athletically.
Athletics Director Lew Perkins went to Paul Buskirk, associate athletics director of student athlete support services, and told him the Athletics Department would have the opportunity to create a new academic facility that could benefit student athletes for the next 20 years.
The new facility, located in the Wagnon Student Athlete Center, will have 24 tutor rooms and 16 staff offices that can be used for tutoring at night. There will also be some larger study areas and an atrium space where students can do homework.
“Honestly, space and doors is all I want,” Buskirk said.
Katie Martincich, Shawnee senior, described the current Hale Achievement Center as an open environment where it could be hard to concentrate.
Martincich, who has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll three times, said the construction of the new facility showed how the Athletics Department continued to make academics a vital part of the student athlete experience.
“Not only does it stress how important our athletic department feels academics are for us as kids, it also just gives us other ways to achieve success in the classroom,” Martincich said.
On Monday through Thursday nights, Buskirk said, the Hale Achievement Center transforms into a “beehive.”
“Our operation has changed and grown in expectations,” Buskirk said. “We outgrew this space long ago.”
The growth of the student athlete support services is visible. Last fall the student athletes averaged about 1,000 hours of tutoring a week.
Buskirk said he saw the opportunities to achieve at a higher level.
“I’m hoping and expecting that the space gives us the opportunity that we can be more accommodating to the times of when students and tutors are available,” Buskirk said. “The students who have been able to get the job done sitting in the beehive, just think what they could get done if they actually had some space and some quiet.”
The NCAA requires every Division I athletics department to have some type of academic support program. Buskirk said the University’s student athlete support services were second to none.
“We could do the minimalist but we’re well past that,” Buskirk said.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director of external affairs, said the new academic center was part of the larger picture for the development of student athletes.
“This is all part of the plan to do everything we can to provide the student athletes what they need to be successful and that’s the thought process behind what you see here,” Marchiony said.
— — Edited by Grant Treaster
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Comments
Student athletes to have new study area
So this must mean that the Student Parent Center is just around the corner. Or at least the Student Worker Center, right? I'll just look for a spot to wait while this university's students, alumni, leaders, and donors get their priorities straight. Oh, here's a spot; it's next to the Docking Family Gateway.
Student athletes to have new study area
Finally, no more leaking windows in the study area... When the entire project is finished it will not take away any parking spots (since they're building over the walkway/entrances), can't say the same during construction though.
Student athletes to have new study area
Can I get a new study area? The ceilings in Anschutz are caving in...
Student athletes to have new study area
Good. I'm glad that we're finally showing those who are better than us the support they deserve. I would also like to volunteer to pull their rickshaws.
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