The University of Memphis Board of Trustees announced details about FedEx Learning inspired by the FedEx LiFE program, a plan to obtain both Carnegie 1 status for the university and rough timetables for various construction projects at the quarterly board meeting Sept. 5.
Richard Irwin, the vice provost for academic innovation and support services, addressed the board about the LiFE program.
In the program, U of M Global would offer FedEx Hub employees 12 credit hours of tuition per semester. FedEx also offers a prep academy for those without a high school diploma or GED.
“We launched this program four weeks ago tomorrow,” Irwin said. “We are now approaching 1,500 inquiries. Half of those have either been placed in the prep academy or in courses.”
Freshman business major and FedEx employee Evan Mosby talked to the board about what the program means for him.
“It has always been a dream of mine to become a Memphis Tiger, and I would like to thank anyone who assisted in manifesting such a helpful program,” Mosby said.
President M. David Rudd said the University is making an effort to achieve Carnegie 1 status.
According to the Carnegie Classification, achieving an “R1” status at a university requires the highest research activity of universities around the country.
“We’ve got $7.25 million directly invested in expansion of research and innovation over the next five years,” Rudd said.
Rudd said the goal has driven decisions behind changes in the administration and a proposal for a new STEM classroom and research building that will be located next to the Engineering Science Building.
Rudd also detailed plans for other projects after construction on the pedestrian bridge, University Center Amphitheater and garage has completed. Among the other projects that are “in the queue” are a natatorium, a student recruitment center and a renovation of the Park Avenue housing.
“I know that not a lot of people believe we are actually going to do the realignment of Patterson and Southern, but we are,” Rudd said.
Rudd went on to explain that the project has been funded for a couple of years, but the university is waiting on the completion of the parking garage and land bridge to begin the alignment project.
“That is annually the most miserable experience to go through that 4-way stop over there, when students are transitioning to campus and don’t know how to actually navigate it,” Rudd said. “It is a difficult bottleneck for the university, but the realignment will really be a fabulous project.”
Rudd also announced the Scheidt Family Music Center has also been funded and moving along.
Rudd said parking in the Central lot would be expanded before constrution begins on the new music building to account for lost parking spaces.
“We should have some designs ready-to-share in three or four weeks for the project,” Rudd said.
Among other things, the board also discussed keeping tuition low and streamlined, changes in residence life system and the naming of the new rifle facility.
