TCU School of Journalism
Todd Waldvogel, associate vice chancellor for facilities and campus planning, uses a campus map to explain Facilities Master Plan. Friday, Sept. 18, 2015.
The Facilities Master Plan committee helps to manage the university’s growth, and its members are saying they want faculty and staff input about future renovations.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Kathy Cavins-Tull sent an email linked to a survey for all faculty and staff last month.
The survey is meant to ask participants to help identify buildings, areas, systems or programs that may require facilities planning.
The committee will then compile, review and evaluate survey responses.
Todd Waldvogel, associate vice chancellor for facilities and campus planning, said the Facilities Master Plan serves as a guideline for the university to address the condition of the whole campus.
Waldvogel said he poses a lot of questions before deciding which buildings get renovated.
“What’s going to be an academic space?” Waldvogel said. “What’s going to be a residential space?
“Where am I going to put future buildings so that we can manage and predict our growth and our opportunities?”
Waldvogel and Cavins-Tull, along with Provost Nowell Donovan, are the chairs for the Facilities Master Plan Committee.
The committee itself is made up of more than 20 faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students.
Student Body President Maddie Reddick and Student Body Vice President of Operations, Ryker Thompson, identify and address student issues from sga@tcu.edu to the committee.
Thompson said that he appreciates that the committee cares about staff as well as students’ opinions.
“It didn’t matter who said anything all the way from the top administration or students said something.” Thompson said. “It’s considered equally in that committee.”
Waldvogel said everything the committee is doing comes down to collaboration and transparency to ensure everybody has the opportunity to provide insight.
“We’re very open and very inclusive to what we’re doing so that everybody understands our plans,” Waldvogel said. “We’re developing the campus that it will grow and develop in a way that’s consistent with everybody’s needs.”
Dr. June Koelker, dean of the library, said in an e-mail that the Facilities Master Plan is a significant planning process.
“Having multiple viewpoints represented contributes to quality outcomes.” Koelker said. “I’m pleased to be part of the effort.”
Waldvogel said in addition to the survey he will be talking to Staff Assembly, Faculty Senate and representative from the City of Fort Worth.