BOLIVAR, MO – During its spring Board of Trustees meeting May 9, Southwest Baptist University gained approval for a complete renovation of the Jim Mellers Center, which houses The Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry.
“The Jim Mellers Center was built in 1985 as a conference center,” said SBU President C. Pat Taylor. “In 1998 The Courts Redford College moved into The Mellers Center when it outgrew its location in Mabee Chapel. The Mellers Center was not originally designed for academic classroom use, and the continued growth of the Redford College programs has made this renovation a necessity.”
Taylor said the planned renovation will create new classroom space, replace an outdated HVAC system, and provide for new furniture at an estimated cost of $1,260,700. To date, 85% of the cost has been raised for the project. The engineers and architects are currently reviewing the programming plans with faculty and staff members who will be using the building. The project is expected to begin late this summer and be completed in one year.
In other Board action, the trustees approved the 2006-07 budget of $34,671,057, which includes an increase in wages and salaries for faculty and staff.
The trustees also reviewed plans for a campus-wide initiative to further encourage excellence in academics and behavior based on Christian principles and expectations.
The next trustee meeting is scheduled for October 16-17, 2006.