July 22, 2013
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - In about six weeks, students return to Campbellsville University, and they will see numerous changes and improvements to make their stay at CU more comfortable with more options for food, housing, education, etc.

One of the more notable changes will be the front entrance to CU where the Alumni & Friends Park should be complete in early fall. The new “front door” entrance to campus in located on a one-half acre area on North Columbia Avenue.

The Alumni & Friends Park construction is under way and should be completed in early fall. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

“We are so thankful for this new area,” Otto Tennant, vice president for finance and administration, said. “It's an attractive corner that will welcome everyone to CU. We have worked with the City of Campbellsville on landscaping the corners. We're excited to see this new addition take place.”

Dustin Benningfield, left, and Gary Mattingly, supervisor, with Haydon Steel build the colonnade for Alumni & Friends Park. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

A new residence village for women will be open the first week of August. It allows for 48 students to live in apartment style housing. The housing unit will have a big social room with a large screen TV, and there will be a 1,500-square foot housing area for the residence hall director. The new 14,000-square foot village is on Meader Street.

“The apartment style housing has been requested by our students,” Tennant said. “We offer other housing choices as well. We try to accommodate all students with different options and needs.”

North Hall, a men's residence hall, is being totally renovated. All windows are being replaced, new decorate shutters added to outside of the building, new floors will be in the rooms and all new furniture (bedrooms and lobby) are being added.

There will also be new light fixtures, shelving, towel bars, and vents and return. The entire building is also being painted. The resident director's apartment is totally being renovated with an outside entrance.

Students, and the community, will have another restaurant choice with the opening of the new Papa John's Pizza and University Grill on North Columbia across from Alumni & Friends Park.

This eatery is scheduled to be open in late September or early October and will offer a shared eating space with Papa John's, which is moving from their location in Central Plaza Shopping Center to campus, and a new university grill.

Tennant said Papa John's said over 50 percent of their business comes from the university when classes are in session, and they decided it would be prudent to move on campus. It will remain open to the public as well.

The return of a campus grill is also a request from students, Tennant said. The grill will share seating with Papa John's and will be open to the public.

A new cosmetology program is being offered through Campbellsville University's Technology Training Center. The first class will begin Sept. 3, according to Carol Sullivan, director of the Technology Training Center.

The program will be housed in two buildings on Nancy Cox Drive. The class will consist of 20 students, and registration is now open. Classes will begin three times a year in September, January and May.

The Cosmetology Salon Building will be open to the public for services by the students beginning in November 2013 and will be open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Financial aid is available for the program. Applicants will need to complete a FAFSA and have information sent to CU. For more information contact Sullivan at csullivan@campbellsville.edu or (270) 789-5392.

Remodeling of the Turner Log Cabin in the Turner Log Cabin Park is ongoing. This area will allow for meetings for CU groups.

The Chowning Art Shop remains open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for the sale of fine artwork. The two cabins are buildings within a new “Art Village” that is being conceptualized.

Other remodeling projects include the completion of an additional dressing room in the Alumni Building for the Department of Theater; installation of new carpet in Gosser Fine Arts Center including the band room, choral room and The Gheens Recital Hall; construction of an office for the women's wrestling coach; possible black box theater in the old Fischer Auto Parts Building and a new recycling program for the campus.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.