Corpus Christi Caller-Times
By
Students and visitors at Texas A&M University-Kingsville likely will notice changes around campus next fall.
Spurred by Texas A&M System recommendations, the university will increase its number of emergency call boxes, signs near the university and begin improvements to academic facilities.
There will be a $28 million price tag, paid by university funds.
"It's incumbent upon us to make some improvements to campus in the short-term," said
University officials recently have sought ways to help the campus recover from an enrollment drop from 2004-05, when numbers fell from 7,014 to 6,662, including increased recruitment and the current construction of a 600-bed housing facility.
The campus will increase its number of emergency call boxes. There are 13 boxes, and officials still are trying to determine how many should be added.
Signs around campus and
And officials plan to begin a $500,000 renovation to the campus' biology-earth sciences facilities and auditorium in that building.
The university will use its Higher Education Funds -- state-allocated funds for upgrades -- to pay for the changes.
There are not many specifics, however, about possible plans for the university to acquire nearby land for future housing.
System officials are in early negotiations about buying and using nearby land for family apartments.
"We're working with (the system) to see if it's feasible to acquire this kind of property," Saban said. "We have not really done this, as other universities have done."
The City of
Most of the decided-upon improvements at A&M-Kingsville will be completed by the fall. Officials, however, also are currently studying how to upgrade the university's student union building and cafeteria.
