Construction to begin soon on Valley’s business school

ITTA BENA — After four years on the capital development plan, the Business Building is finally on its way to becoming a

reality on the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) campus.

“We were very fortunate to receive our construction funds in the 2000 Legislature,” said Dr. Roy Hudson, vice president for

university relations at MVSU.

The building, which will cost an estimated $6 million to construct, will replace the old Business Building on campus, which was

built in the early ‘60s.

The old building is simply out-of-date and inadequate for programs and activities required for modern business schools,

according to Hudson. The new building will be a “smart building,” able to accommodate regular business administration

programs as well as entrepreneurial activities.

“This also emphasizes our academic organization where we have gone from a business department to having the School of

Business,” Hudson added.

With the new building will come new offerings in the School of Business. And whereas the old building was able to

accommodate between 350 and 400 students, the new building will accommodate 600 students. It is a good thing, too, because

with the expected enrollment increase more students interested in pursuing a business degree will most certainly be on their

way to MVSU.

“Right now, even before our audited figures, we’re showing a 4% increase from last year. We look at the business programs

as leadership programs that are attractive to the career-oriented young people of today,” Hudson said. “They are preparing

themselves for a world of technology, to participate in the global economy and to gain the entrepreneurial skills needed to

participate in the business world and to create business activities. You want to train them to get into venture capital and do

those things that become part of the financial base.”

In order to accomplish this, facilities must exist that will accommodate such new programs.

“When we build this building, it will be a ‘smart building,’” Hudson said.

Dr. Dae Sung Lee, dean of the college of professional studies, has already asked that several things be put into the School of

Business.

“We are a growing department, and we need the additional classrooms and offices and labs,” Lee said. “I have already

requested 12 classrooms.”

At least one classroom should accommodate 100 students for lecture. Lee has also requested two computer labs in addition to

the 12 classrooms, with 40 computers in each lab. But the most important thing about the new School of Business is that it will

keep the faculty in close proximity to one another.

“Right now the faculty is scattered all over the place,” Lee explained. “I’d like to have offices in one area so we can have

constant interaction among faculty members.”

Lee has also requested that an elevator be installed in order to accommodate handicapped students, faculty and visitors.

The new School of Business will hopefully be under construction by late spring or mid-summer 2001. It will be built on the

same site as the existing building on Leflore Avenue in the center of the academic campus. It will replace the structurally

unsound building that now exists.

“It was designed as probably what was supposed to have been a smart building in its time, but today is very outdated,” Hudson

said.

The decision to replace the building came after determining it would simply be more costly to renovate than to tear down and

build a new structure altogether.

Contact MBJ staff writer Elizabeth Kirkland at ekirkland@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1042.