Campus Planning
"The CCM facility marks the latest expansion of MTSU’s Science Corridor of Innovation."
The physical landscape of the MTSU campus continues to evolve and grow in positive ways.
Students began using MTSU’s new $40.1 million School of Concrete and Construction Management (CCM) Building on the west side of campus in October 2022, as they prepare for professional careers in a high-demand sector throughout the booming Nashville area and beyond. I’m amazed at the many ways concrete was utilized in the design and construction. Students will see firsthand how the many forms of concrete can add value and creativity to a structure. The building is a true living laboratory, with examples of various construction techniques and operating systems in full view of students.
Along with a neighboring Applied Engineering Building, set for groundbreaking in spring 2023, which will serve as the home for the Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Engineering programs as well as provide space for future engineering programs, the CCM facility marks the latest expansion of MTSU’s Science Corridor of Innovation.
It was with great excitement that we announced in fall 2022 our success in securing $66 million to build a new Student-Athlete Performance Center as well as make stadium improvements. These advancements represent the first
of a three-phase, $100 million-plus plan to upgrade our athletics facilities. The three-story structure will house training, strength and conditioning, and equipment centers. The first stage of the project is expected to be completed before the start of the 2024 Blue Raider football season. We also preserved and updated our iconic Murphy Center in 2022, a year in which the “Glass House” marked its 50th birthday. The arena is undergoing a makeover that began in 2022 with a new glass exterior.
Construction also started on our new on-campus tennis facility at the corner of Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Greenland Drive. The outdoor complex will include eight tennis courts, seating for 250 fans, new locker rooms, and new coaches’ offices. Projected completion is fall 2023.
The state provided funding for the renovation of Kirksey Old Main and Rutledge Hall. The total project budget is $54.3 million, which includes $2.4 million in required matching funds.
MTSU also received state funding for an Aerospace campus totaling $62.2 million, which includes $5 million in University matching funds.
MARCH
Women's History Month
Six individuals were lauded for their pioneering efforts to aid women at the 2022 Trailblazer Awards at MTSU on March 29.
Winners—who represent members of the MTSU community and members of the greater community who are nominated and voted on by MTSU faculty, students, and staff—were celebrated at the official closing ceremony for National Women’s History Month.
Lucy Langworthy, an advisor to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts, was hailed for her work as a mentor, helping students to make major life decisions even after they graduated.
Terri Schultz, executive director for Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, was praised for helping families remain strong and hopeful, even as housing prices rise.
Future Trailblazer award winners were Khadijah Alnassari and her 15-year-old triplets, Ahmed, Fatimah, and Zaynab. All four Alnassaris are MTSU students. Khadijah was the prime organizer of the inaugural Festival of Veils, a March 19 event centered around enlightening the public about the use of veils in various religions and cultures. Ahmed tutors and mentors teenage boys in Nashville on the weekends. He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and has worked as an assistant to a doctor with Medical Brigades in Honduras. Fatimah is co-founder and secretary of Al-Wahda, an MTSU student organization focused on inclusivity and acceptance. She also is a mentor and tutor and has taken up donations for Raiders’ Closet. Zaynab, the event coordinator for Al-Wahda, also volunteers her time to help other teenagers.
From left to right: Zaynab Alnassari, Fatimah Alnassari, Ahmed Alnassari, Khadijah Alnassari, Lucy Langworthy, Terri Schultz, and Maigan Wipfli
Better Understanding Crime
MTSU’s Ben Stickle, a Criminal Justice Administration associate professor, took six years’ worth of policing experience from patrol to the classroom when he changed careers to become a professor.
Now, a decade after he left the force, three of Stickle’s research and evaluation efforts helped the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation receive a combined $950,000 in funding from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Two of these grants fund studies on the impact of coronavirus on crime and criminal justice at the state and local level. Adam Rennhoff, MTSU Economics professor, assisted Stickle with this research.
The third grant awarded Stickle $800,000 as part of the state’s Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking program. Carter Smith, a Criminal Justice Administration master instructor at MTSU, also works on the project and provides research assistance.
Public Safety
A new degree program, launched in March 2022 in MTSU’s University College, allows more public servants to earn their bachelor’s degrees.
The new Public Safety concentration is part of the Integrated Studies major. The degree program can be completed online and is specifically designed for those already working in the public safety field. It features courses from management, sociology, communications, and health.
The Public Safety concentration is designed for those in law enforcement, homeland security, emergency management, and fire safety, and other public service professionals at the local, state and federal levels. Students who qualify can also earn credit for their past work experience and training.
Pictured: Alumni Sarah Jackson, MTSU Public Safety dispatcher.
