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School of Pharmacy prepares to make room for growth

 

19-Apr-2007: The School of Pharmacy will receive much-needed additional space as renovations begin on 200 University Park this summer.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Planning and Administration Richard Walker said the School of Pharmacy will operate out of three University Park buildings in fall 2007. These buildings include the School of Pharmacy Lab, the Technology and Research Center and 200 University Park.

Walker said newly available space in 200 University Park will be renovated into additional faculty offices and a new student lounge. The building also houses Textbook Services and the current pharmacy classrooms and office spaces.

"The classroom and office building is a multitenant building," Walker said. "One of those tenants (Gateway Medical Research Center) is moving out in July, and that gave us an opportunity to renovate that space into faculty offices and a student lounge."

The student lounge will provide space for pharmacy students waiting between classes or working on group projects.

"It's a place for students to go that will have a lot of electrical outlets," Walker said.

Other features include wireless Internet, many small group tables, a microwave and refrigerator.

In addition to the new space in 200 University Park, additional classroom space was added in the Technology and Management Center for the fall 2007 semester.

"It already exists," Walker said. "Except for a few chairs, it's ready for them to move in."

According to Walker, the need for new space sprung from a change in the pharmacy program. When it began two years ago, the pharmacy program placed the students on campus for two years, and then working off campus for the next two years.

The revised program now requires three years on campus and one year of off-campus work.

"I think it's a good advantage for students to be able to have that third year of instruction on campus with the pharmacy faculty and to be involved in some of their research," Walker said.

With 80 students in each pharmacy class, the School of Pharmacy will handle 240 students in the 2007 fall semester. Walker said the renovations will provide one-third more lounge space for students and additional office space for more faculty.

First-year pharmacy students Jessica Brandmeyer, Halley Connor and Nicole Repking said they were excited to hear about the renovations.

"We need more room," Brandmeyer said. "More places to study quietly."

Brandmeyer said currently there are only three small, conference-like rooms for the students to use between classes.

"These are the places you go if you just want quiet," Brandmeyer said.

Connor said pharmacy students benefit from the conference rooms when working on group assignments.

"If they're going to assign group projects, they need to have more spaces like these," Connor said.

Repking said she was looking forward to more classroom space, adding that large classes and tight space can make test taking difficult.

"With 80 people in one room, it's close quarters," Repking said.

Walker said the renovation projected could cost up to $450,000, but he thinks it will be lower. Once the designs have been created, a more accurate cost estimate can be established.

Walker explained the money to renovate the space will come from the remainder of a loan taken out three years ago to pay for the Pharmacy Buildings' construction. The money to pay back the loan will come from the central income fund, tuition money generated by pharmacy students.

"It's by the students, for the students," Walker said.

Walker said he is currently waiting for the design proposals, and as soon as Gateway Medical Research leaves in July, renovations can begin.

The project is expected to take two months to complete, and Walker said faculty and students should have full use of the facilities shortly after classes begin in fall 2007.

"We hope to have the contracts awarded and ready for the contractors to start ... as soon as they can in July," Walker said. "If they start mid-July, mid-September, it'll be done."

Walker said the renovation project should accommodate all the School of Pharmacy's needs for awhile.

"This is the final piece of the pharmacy renovation and construction project and it should serve the needs of pharmacy students until a health sciences building is built," Walker said.

No date is set on when the health sciences building will begin design or construction. Walker said a new science building and a new library will be constructed before a health sciences building. All three are contingent on Illinois state funding.

Source: Alestle