Growth is usually the goal of any industrious institution.
Responsible growth, however, isn’t as commonplace. From Fortune 500 companies to universities all over the country, we sometimes learn the hard way about growth of the “too much too soon” variety. As Edward Abbey said, “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”
To avoid becoming a tumor between 12th and 7th streets, CMU is implementing careful planning and procedure to ensure that its growth is responsible.
Student input is rampant for projects like upcoming renovations to the library and new academic building ACB II. Mass Communications students in particular have been invited to meetings with architects to give insight as to what facilities would be the most conducive to their learning in the building that will house the Mass Comm. department. This included a television studio that is openly visible to passersby and study rooms that house the particular resources Mass Comm. students need. This seems to be the standard for a significant portion of the campus expansion. Surely the Residence Hall Association has given its input on new dorms, as members of athletic programs likely expressed their desires for the Maverick Center.
The expansion of the Nursing program shows a reactivity to a national economic need for health care workers. CMU is showing an adaptability to national trends and needs for individuals with specialized training and degrees. Hopefully, this trend continues into other fields. An adaptable university is a sustainable one.
Right in line with that idea of sustainability is the tri-generation project, an on-campus natural-gas power generator that puts its excess heat to efficient uses for heating and cooling. That excess heat can also be sent to nearby community institutions like District 51 public schools and St. Mary’s hospital, allowing CMU to integrate with other community fixtures in the Grand Valley.
CMU didn’t just buy all the property between campus and 7th St. and start ripping out houses and tossing out construction contracts. We are carefully planning each and every part of the campus expansion and making sure that it syncs up with the fields students are studying and the community in which our university exists.