As the city of Memphis and its surrounding communities continueto grow, The University of Memphis, in an effort to continue toprovide higher education to Memphis-area residents, is expanding aswell.
Phase I of The U of M Millington Center has been completed and apublic celebration to commemorate the center's official opening washeld yesterday at the new location.
"The University of Memphis will be able to better serve studentsof West Tennessee and surrounding areas with the convenience of thenew satellite campus," said Bob Gaston, director of businessdevelopment.
Phase I of the center includes Willis Hall, a 12,000 square ft.facility that can accommodate up to 1,000 students.
Enrollment in the new center should not affect class sizes atThe U of M main campus, according to Gaston.
"The Millington Center will be an expansion of The University ofMemphis," he said.
Renovation of the building was completed ahead of schedule andclasses in the new building began in May 2004.
Many U of M students who reside in the Millington area say theythink the new facility is a great addition.
"It's great that classes are offered out here," said DanielHorvath, senior exercise and sports science major. "I live maybe 30seconds from the center."
The drive from Millington to The U of M main campus can take30-40 minutes, according to Horvath.
"Traffic is usually pretty hectic," he said.
Although the new center is a more convenient location forMillington residents, some say avoiding the main campus may causestudents to miss out on the college experience.
"When you are on the main campus, you see more people," saidHorvath. "There are also more opportunities to get involved indifferent events and organizations."
Students may lose out on the social aspect of college byattending a satellite campus, but it's all about weighing theoptions, he said.
Currently, the center offers a wide-range of courses, and classsizes are growing steadily. Average class sizes are 17.5 students,according to Dr. Herb McCree, director of the MillingtonCenter.
"This is the greatest opportunity The University of Memphiscould have," McCree said. "The establishment of this majoroff-campus teaching and resource center will serve as an excellentresource for west Tennessee."
The property, acquired by The U of M in December 2002, wasformerly a military hospital at Naval Support ActivityMid-South.
A $2.9 million grant from The University of Memphis Foundationand support from the Tennessee Board of Regents provided fundingfor the project, according to Gaston.
The second phase of the project, a 40,000-square-foot facility,is still under construction. Officials said they hope to see itcompleted in the next two years.
When completed, the center will be able to accommodate up to4,000 students.
U of M President Dr. Shirley Raines, Millington Mayor George R.Harvell Jr. and Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., who representsMillington in Congress, are among those scheduled to attend today'sevent.
