By Gregory Horner, Staff Reporter.
As plans for a new satellite campus in Downtown Saginaw move forward, many questions remain unanswered. On Nov. 4 at the Ricker Center (4605 Webber St, Saginaw, Mich.), and Nov. 5 on Delta’s main campus, organizers asked Delta students and faculty for their ideas on how the proposed center can better help students and the surrounding area.
Downtown Saginaw was selected in April 2014 by Delta’s Board of Trustees as the site for a new satellite campus, to replace Delta’s current Saginaw campus, the Ricker Center. While an exact location hasn’t been chosen, Delta has brought in campus planning consultants Smithgroup JJR and Paulien & Associates, Inc. to demonstrate a framework for what the future campus could be.
“We’re talking about a space that won’t look like the center that we’re in right now,” said Bob Kozmas, a consultant from Smithgroup JJR. “We want a well-defined, unique center that will offer new opportunities to the community.”
While the Ricker Center currently enrolls about 700 students, recent estimates suggest the new center could serve up to 1200 students in classes offered Monday through Saturday. Project leaders hope to utilize the local assets of the area to provide a 21st century educational experience to students in Saginaw.
Some students still had doubts about the choice of location for the new center, citing concerns about Downtown Saginaw’s safety. Many others felt downtown Saginaw didn’t offer food or entertainment for students.
“There aren’t many dining options there,” said Jazmonique Jones, a student of the Ricker Center majoring in social work. “There has to be some kind of meal offered at this new campus.”
Students were also frustrated by the selection of classes offered at the Ricker center, and hope a new center will provide a more complete curriculum in select programs.
“We just want more options,” said Briana Williams, a computer science major. “The ability to finish a program without always having to go to the main campus would mean a lot.”
Frank Markley, of Paulien & Associates inc. encouraged students to voice their complaints. “Our goal is to knit this all together, these discussions will help us create a better facility.”
“I like the idea of downtown, the library is very close and it seems a good location for the area’s future,” said William Duke II, a student pursuing Delta’s 3+1 program in Finance, and an attendee of the Ricker Center. “It’s encouraging to see organizers ask the community for their input.”
Most participants heard about the meetings through word of mouth. The planners were happy with the discussions that came about, but must take further steps to inform the public of future events.
“We’re trying to get get a dialogue going,” said Kozmas, “Tell us what programs and services should be offered; provide our team with the vision of what you see in this new campus.”
Another meeting for student input on the new Saginaw campus will be held sometime in early December.