Many of the offices on campus are heading into space. No, they won’t be launched into orbit. But they soon will have much more ground space in which to relocate.
The Space Policy Council met Wednesday in the University Center to discuss space assignments in the Wilder Tower and on the first floor of the Administration Building.
The council is made up of 19 representatives from various departments and offices on campus.
Information on space is presented to the council, then discussed and finally voted on.
“It’s a wonderful way to assign space. There are representatives from all over campus,” said Dianne Day, a representative from the Biology Department. “It allows someone from one area to know the needs of another area. There’s input from everyone.”
The new space plans were presented to the council by Ruthie Bassford, director of the Office of Space Planning and Utilization, and Helen Visconti, space analyst for the same office. This office keeps up with all space on campus and reports the space usage to the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Bassford and Visconti make their space allotments by analyzing space assignments and utilization, and by conducting space studies to determine needs. Each worker on campus has a certain amount of square footage assigned to him or her. Worksheets on the location, job description and the amount of square footage per person were presented to the council.
The Wilder Tower is currently under renovation to convert it from the former University Library to a Student Services Building. The council hopes to make Wilder Tower into a “one-stop shop” for students by housing similar services under one roof.
The planned occupants for Wilder Tower are: The Alumni Heritage Room, the Bursar’s Office, Enrollment Services (Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Enrollment Systems, Registrar, Student Financial Aid, Student Relations and Orientation Services), Continuing Education, Extended Programs, International Programs and Services, the University College and Student Development (Athletic Academic Services, Career and Employment Services, Academic Counseling, Career Counseling, Psychological Counseling, Testing Center and Student Disability Services).
“We want the building to be as user friendly as possible,” said Dr. Marty Alberg, a representative from the Office of the President. “Students should be the first priority on campus.”
The council is pleased with the space still available in Wilder Tower. The council described some existing offices as having people “packed in.” The fifth level is still unassigned, but this allows for the possibility of growth.
“There is valid space to meet the needs of the tenants,” Visconti said.
A large amount of space became available on the first floor of the Administration Building due to the number of offices moving to Wilder Tower. Human Resources and the Purchasing Department will both be moving to the first floor of the Administration Building. The present Bursar’s Office areas and Bursar windows will suffice with only minor alterations for Human Resources.
The council seeks to provide an organized and efficient space allotting process.
“The council is a wonderful process,” said council member Ann Harbor. “It’s a cross-representation from campus to make campus decisions, not departmental ones. It tries to make the best decisions for students and the campus.”
