LMU’s Chief Operating Officer Dr. James Dawson gave an update on the university at a press luncheon held Thursday in the president’s home.
Despite a sluggish economy, the university has no plans to stop expanding programs offered both on campus and off, according to their Chief Operating Officer Dr. James Dawson at a press luncheon held Thursday in the president’s home. Dawson is also in the running for president, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
One of the biggest announcements made was the addition of a new building that, according to Dawson, will rival LMU’s latest wonder, the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), in size.
“We will begin construction very shortly on a new science and math building,” said Dawson.
“It will be a very significant building, probably larger than our medical school building.”
He said it will be constructed beside the business and education building.
“That’s a major addition for us because that will allow us to expand the school, hopefully adding a pharmacy program and add a number of science-related programs.”
And of course, with an increase of buildings and classrooms comes an influx of students.
“That means you have to add more residence space, because we’re almost out,” said Dawson. “We will be at full occupancy next fall.”
Dawson said LMU will construct five new residency halls to accommodate the increase. When construction is complete, LMU will ultimately house 1,000 undergraduate students on campus, according to Dawson.
And with all those new students, Dawson said LMU would likely construct a new student center, probably adjacent to Tex Turner arena.
The university is also considering plans to launch veterinary medicine and engineering programs down the road, according to Dawson.
Dawson said LMU is able to expand more readily than other small schools because they are adding professional programs.
Dawson addressed rumors about LMU’s athletic program becoming Division 1.
“I have to say that’s an ambition for LMU,” said Dawson. “But it takes a long time to make that happen.”
He said that once the opportunity becomes available, LMU will move towards it.
In regards to LMU’s long-awaited search for a new president, Dawson said it was upcoming.
“We hope we can make an announcement very quickly about the president,” said Dawson, adding he expected the announcement in the next week or so.
Dawson said the position drew applications from across the country. “We had a good pool of applicants and truly had the opportunity to visit with some outstanding people.”
Off-campus, LMU recently launched the LMU-Duncan School of Law which is still undergoing accreditation procedures. Dawson said DCOM would receive final accreditation in 2011.
Dawson said that despite all the university’s growth, they remained committed to the area.
“We serve the Appalachian region,” said Dawson. “That’s part of our mission and we don’t want to lose sight of it.”
Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.
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