New education building nears completion

DEAN CHILDERS

Staff Writer

MAY 2009 -- Construction of the new School of Education should be finished sometime in June.

“It will mean a defining point in the history of teacher preparation at Campbellsville University,” said Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Brenda A. Priddy.

Work on the building began in fall. The estimated cost is $1.2 million.

The 14,000 square foot building will have five classrooms including a small auditorium, student lounge, 20 offices, faculty workroom, a conference room, a museum for storing children’s literature illustrations, student collaborative working area and a computer lab.

Each classroom will hold 15 to 30 people with the auditorium holding 40-50 people.

New technology, such as smartboards and a clicker system, will be included.

“It’ll be a convenience for students,” said Otto Tennant, vice president for finance and administration.

At present, the faculty of the School Education is spread around three buildings. These buildings include the Student Union Building, Druien Hall and Carter Hall. Campbellsville University offers more than 18 different programs of education.

The university has 14 full-time professors and approximately 20 adjuncts in education.

“We need the space,” said Priddy.

The Campbell’s Museum of Children’s Literature at the center of the building is being built in the honor of Dr. Beulah Campbell, a CU alumna.

Campbell was a professor of children’s literature and donated her collection to the museum. Tennant said that the building will help education majors and teachers and “enable them to grow.”

The building is being financed mostly through donations from contributors, especially the Van Lunen Foundation.

After the completion of the building in June, the current space used for the school will be used for other academic programs, though nothing has been made official yet.

“It (the new building) brings a much needed recognition for our ever growing faculty,” Priddy said.

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