MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE

Facilities Focus Group

FOCUS GROUP ORGANIZATION

The Facilities Focus Group is comprised of the following individuals:

• Sue Robinson (Focus Group Chair) - Associate to the Executive Vice President Don Willis - Dean of Student Affairs
• Bruce Woody - Director of Public Works/City of St. Joseph, MO
• Lonnie Johnson - Director of Physical Plant

The Facilities Focus Group subsequently formed three subgroups in order to involve various individuals identified as "resource people." The subgroups were identified as

• Land Use (Dr. John Rushin, Chair)
• Facilities (Rick Leahy, Chair)
• Residence Halls (John Comerford, Chair)

A complete listing of the Facilities Focus Group/Sub-Groups (l7 participants) is as follows:

Name/Email Title Address Phone Committee

Missouri Western State College has carefully developed the campus over time to maintain a tight academic core with athletic, residential, parking and physical plant uses at the periphery. This has resulted in a campus that feels coherent, concise and well integrated. Continued development of the Master Plan should continue this use pattern as Missouri Western State College continues to grow in student population and expand its offerings as a resource for the community. The Facilities Focus Group identified the following as underlying principles for planning for the future physical development for Missouri Western State College:

• To create a framework for future project planning and implementation;

• To be used as an instrument for future budget justification to the Board of Regents and State Legislature;

• To create momentum for progress and to establish a common "vision" for future development.

Facilities/Support Services Sub-Group

Serving on this Sub-Group: Lonnie Johnson, Don Willis, Sue Robinson, Rick Leahy, Cindie Murphy, Pete Chapman, Sue Meadows, Wonda Berry-Howe, Jon Kelley

The overall objective is to provide a Master Plan and assessment of existing space utilization with recommendations for improvements and strategies for implementation. The Facilities/Support Services section of the Master Plan is proposed to include the following:

Infrastructure Assessment

It is recommended the services of an accredited consulting firm be employed to conduct an assessment of the existing infrastructure. The evaluation should include an assessment of:

• the structural integrity of all campus facilities
• the environmental atmosphere
• health and safety concerns
• campus access requirements
• deferred maintenance needs
• capital improvement needs
• facility renovation and upgrade needs
• utilities - electric, gas, water sewer
• technological infrastructure
 

Space Assessment

It is recommended the services of an accredited consulting firm be employed to conduct an assessment of:

• current interior space utilization, including an evaluation of the square footage of each category (for example: classrooms, laboratories, offices, maintenance, storage facilities, etc.)

• recommendations for maximizing the use of existing space

• recommendations regarding plans for future expansion
 

Land Use Sub-Group

Serving on this Sub-Group: Lonnie Johnson, Don Willis, Sue Robinson, John Rushin, Bruce Woody, Bruce Whitsell, Tim Ripperger, Harold Kerns, Jim Holley, Robert Kelly

The following areas were identified as specific areas to be considered as part of the Master Plan for campus land and related facilities (please note individuals with specific expertise are noted who have agreed to assist with development of plans for the specific areas).

• Otoe Creek Nature Area (campus greenbelt, approximately 225 acres): Dr. John

Rushin, Bob Kelley

The campus greenbelt area (known as the Otoe Creek Nature Area) includes approximately 225 acres of land immediately adjacent to Otoe Creek. Every effort should be made to keep this area in a natural state in order that any major changes which occur will be related to natural succession and sound management practices with the guiding principle to enhance the biotic diversity/health of the biotic community. The development of trails for hiking and nature study will be encouraged in this area; however, other activities which threaten the natural conditions in the greenbelt should be discouraged.

This area has been set aside in perpetuity as a place where the processes of nature can be observed, studied and enjoyed by students and the citizens of northwest Missouri.

• Campus Ponds: Harold Kerns, Tim Ripperger

The renovation and development of campus ponds should include the underlying principals of serving as an educational resource for the community to enjoy the processes of nature, provide opportunities for fishing and enhance the biotic diversity/health of the biotic community.

• Parking Traffic Flow and Campus Access: Lonnie Johnson, Jim Holley, Bruce Woody, Bruce Whitsell

Educational, administrative, athletic, cultural, student housing and support functions on the campus should be grouped appropriately and linked with attractive and functional transportation facilities that minimize negative impacts and optimize the overall quality of the campus environment. Transportation occurs in several modes vehicular/pedestrian/bicycles), each mode of transportation with its own unique needs. Development of the Master Plan must include the guiding principle that ultimately each mode of transportation has a direct impact on the alternate modes of transportation. The following major areas where identified to be considered during the Plan development:

• Access to campus

• Traffic Flow on the inner campus

• Parking facilities

• Pedestrian/Bicycle Pathways
• Pedestrian Walkways: Lonnie Johnson, Jim Holley, Bruce Woody, Bruce Whitsell

Missouri Western State College has an extensive pedestrian system

used by college personnel, students and the St. Joseph community for

hiking, jogging and nature viewing. An guiding principle for future expansion and development of the pedestrian walkways should include linkage to the pedestrian walkway system of the City of St. Joseph. Connections to the recreational trail system on campus and access to campus ponds and unique natural habitats types also should be considered. Nature interpretive materials should be developed for use on the campus pedestrian trail system.

• Recreational Trail: Sue Robinson, Dr. John Rushin

The construction, renovation and development of the recreational trail system should include the following considerations:

• safety
• connections with pedestrian walkways and vehicular traffic areas
• access/connections with campus ponds
• enhancing educational opportunities for the public to enjoy the processes of nature and enhance the biotic diversity/health of the biotic community
• Sportsfields: Don Willis, Bruce Whitsell, Wonda Berry-Howe

Missouri Western provides a number of sportsfields. Sportsfields are utilized by varsity-level athletics, intramural and recreation services (including "free-time" recreation for students, faculty and staff), academic departments for classes and labs, student activities, conferences and special programs and community individuals and groups.

When planning for the renovation and construction of sportsfields, considerations must include future needs of varsity athletics (especially addressing Title IX requirements); expansion of recreation services and student activities; and opportunities to promote and enhance wellness for students, faculty and staff and members of the public. Planned expansion of sportsfields also must include considerations for use of existing land (greenbelt) and awareness of the availability of community resources and the impact the availability has on the need for expansion on campus.

• Landscaping: Bruce Whitsell, Lonnie Johnson
 

The Missouri Western State College campus consists of a very open 734-acre site. When considering the development of any area of the campus, considerations must include the fact the site is a continuous plane. Any project applied to this plane affects not only the specific site, but also will affect the adjacent space. Each addition/change, regardless of the size of the project, must include considerations of harmony/unity among the environment and structure in the continuing process of landscape modification. The intent of landscaping design is to blend the man-made and natural environments to ensure a more harmonious visual statement and improve the "quality of life." Detailed landscape plans for specific areas should be developed on a project basis utilizing the services of a professional landscape architect. Landscape design guidelines are intended to achieve the following objectives:

• Preserve existing plant material resources;
• Improve the visual quality of the campus;
• Improve the environmental quality of the campus;
• Use planting in a way to minimize maintenance.

Numerous factors must be considered as part of the development of the Master Plan:

• land use

• water

• plants
• nursery/greenhouse

• site

• spaces

• aesthetic landscape design principles

• circulation

• structures

• maintenance needs

• environmental design factors

• community relations
 

Residence Halls Sub-Group

Serving on this Sub-Group: John Comerford, Chairperson; Don Willis; Sue Meadows; Mike Ebbing (student); Stephanie Helton (student); Bob Harris; Perry Morris.

The overall objective is to provide as part of the Master Plan development process, an assessment of the existing structural condition of the residence hall structures, an assessment of existing space utilization and develop plans for future renovation, expansion and construction. The Residence Halls Sub-Group considered and discussed the following:

• The need to employ the services of a consultant to assess the existing structural condition of the residence halls structures and assess the utilization of space. Specific attention should be provided to the following:
• electrical wiring
• plumbing
• roof structures
• preventive maintenance analysis
• storage space

• existing space utilization
• In order to ensure future expansion/renovation/construction meet the needs of students, a survey of the residence hall occupants is recommended as part of the Master Plan process. The survey may include the following:
• current student expectations of the physical environment
• potential demand for single rooms
• factors which may deter students from returning to the residence halls
• assessment of services students want
• evaluation of the role students want residence hall staff to play
• potential of married/non-traditional student housing
• Additional topics which were discussed included:
• the need to assess maintenance/custodial staffing for the residence halls complex
• the possibility of roofing the courtyard of the suite areas to increase safety and sense of community
• the need to conduct a marketing analysis and to formulate a marketing plan for the residence halls to increase occupancy levels (note: this process should include residence hall students, parents and students residing in off-campus housing)