President White talks changes on campus
Millikin University President Dr. Patrick White was a recent guest on the Sept. 2017 edition of The Brinkoetter Show, discussing his last four years as President and sharing his thoughts on the recent changes on campus, including the University Commons.
"We've developed new programs and facilities, including the new turf at Frank M. Lindsay Field, the Workman Family Softball Field, and of course the University Commons," President White said. "It's an extraordinary building. Whenever you do a project of this size there's always a great amount of detail to focus on, but it's a fascinating and complex building."
Millikin University celebrated the opening of its new front door to campus, the University Commons, on Aug. 21, 2017.
The $31 million University Commons is located in the heart of Millikin's campus. With the exception of Shilling Hall, an original Millikin structure erected in 1902, the new University Commons, an 87,000 square foot building, is the largest building project in university history.
"While we have every intention to grow our total number of students, class sizes will remain small, the particular detailed relationships that students have with professors, coaches and staff will be the same, and the University Commons is a way to make that happen," President White said. "Within the University Commons, we have the Staley Library, the Center for International Education, the new Doug and Diane Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance, and many more departments that help with our commitment to Performance Learning."
President White noted, "One of the things that I say to all the new students when they come to campus is that Millikin is a place where all faculty, staff and other students have a stake in your life. We have to see their best imagination of themselves, and we are trying to do that with our buildings and our programs."