VU approves $5.65 million renovation of Vigo Residence Hall

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 Vincennes University’s Vigo Residence Hall will undergo a $5.65 million HVAC renovation this summer.

The VU Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved awarding contracts for the
renovation. H.G. Heinz Inc., Vincennes, received a $4 million contract for
mechanical work; Arc Construction, Evansville, received a $1.2 million as
the general contractor; and Skill Electric, Vincennes, received $384,887
for electrical work.

The Board’s Finance Committee earlier approved a $581,000 contact to
Santarossa Mosaic & Tile Co. Inc., Indianapolis, for a terrazzo floor
installation at Updike Hall, which is now under construction. Updike Hall
will be the new home for VU’s College of Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics.

In other business, the VU Board of Trustees:
* Elected Michael Sievers, Vincennes, as first vice chair; Reggie
Henderson, McCordsville, as second vice chair; and J.R. Gaylor,
Noblesville, as secretary.
* Welcomed Drew A. Brown, Muncie, as the new student member of the
Board of Trustees. A junior in the Homeland Security program, Brown earned
an associate degree in Conservation Law Enforcement from VU in April 2016.
He currently works for the VU Foundation and is president of VU
LeaderCorps, secretary of the VU Bass Fishing Club, and public information
officer for the Conservation Law Club. He is a 2014 graduate of Delta High
School in Muncie.
* Approved curriculum changes that included adding a Baking and
Pastry Art Concentration for the Culinary Arts Program. New Certificate
Programs approved include Information Technology, Automotive Service, Auto
Body Repair, Construction Carpenter Assistant, Computer Networking
Fundamentals, Diesel Service and Maintenance, Machinery Repair Assistant,
and Right Skills NOW CNC Machining.
* Received reports about development of the Strategic Plan, new
marketing theme, and progress of the Student Success Center in improving
student retention and graduation.
* Received reports about progress of capital projects at the
Vincennes Campus that include Updike Hall construction, which is running
ahead of schedule, and Kimmell Park re-development along the Wabash River,
which also is moving forward successfully.
* Learned that the State Board of Accounts audit exit conference
was “one of the best the University has had,” with examiners complimenting
the University’s financial management.

VU President Chuck Johnson reported that a recent Women in STEM Day at VU
attracted about 275 high school students from a wide area of the state. “By
all reports it was a success that drew a lot of attention, not just to STEM
careers, but also to VU as a great opportunity to pursue those careers,”
Johnson said.

Johnson reminded the Board of VU’s Mid-Year Commencement on Dec. 10 at 11
a.m. at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. “VU is one of the top 100
producers of associate degrees in the nation, according to Community
College Week. With more than 1,100 community colleges in the U.S., to be
among the top ten percent speaks very well for the role VU plays for the
state in technology and workforce development,” Johnson said.