There have been many different renovations and construction projects going on at Plymouth State University in recent months, including the building of Merrill Place and the renovations of Hyde Hall. The latest project is the renovation of the Speare Administration Building and the relocation of many student services. The plan for the new space is to consolidate services and allow students to go to one central location to get their needs met.

Right now, offices catering to student services, like the Registrar and Residential Life, are spread out around campus. Most offices are either in Speare or in the basement of Mary Lyon Hall. According to Gail Mears, the Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services, “the project seeks to develop a one-stop system for students regarding many services related to academic success and post-graduation success.” The offices that will be located in the new space are the Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Account Services, Student Success Coaching and Undergraduate Student Advising, Career Services, PASS/TRIO/Student Disability Services, Global Education, and Residential Life. “Having these services in one place will allow students to more easily access needed services without having to walk from building to building across campus,” Mears said.

At this time, it is unknown what will be located in previously occupied spaces once the move is made.

According to Mark Anderson, the Manager of Building Maintenance and Construction, “the renovations are being conducted in two phases. That way, the departments already in Speare Hall can be relocated to the new Phase one offices before Phase two renovations start.” The separate phases are meant to ease the transition. Phase one began a few months earlier, and is expected to be completed in December. Once this is finished, offices like Financial Aid will be relocated. Phase two will begin as soon as Phase one is complete, and is expected to be finished in the spring 2018 semester. It is unclear when students will be able to take advantage of the new space.

As previously reported, Plymouth State has a cycle of renovations within which different buildings are either updated or built. The next project will focus on the PE Center Field House. The building is to be renovated with a second floor dedicated to the Health and Human Services Department, and the first floor will be outfitted with a state of the art Strength and Conditioning Lab. Currently, there is no projected start date to this project, as it is still in the planning process.