Members Present: John How - Chair, Dean Adams – Vice Chair, Sreekala Bajwa, Kurt Blunck, David Kack, Duane Morris, Brenden Pelkie, Leslie Schmidt (for Renee Reijo Pera), Glen Steinhoff, Dan Stevenson (for Terry Leist), Brenda York

Members Represented by Proxy:  Christina Fastnow (John How), Joe Schumacher (Brenda York)

Members Absent:  EJ Hook, Tom Rogers, David Singel, Jim Thull

Staff & Guests:  Matt Caires, David Eitle, Tami Eitle, Brett Gunnink, Bill Mackin, Candace Mastel, Mary Kate McCarney, Randy Stephens, Karl Swenson, Leslie Schroeder

 

ITEM No. 1 – APPROVAL OF NOTES

Glen Steinhoff moved to approve the draft notes from February 5, 2019.

Leslie Schmidt seconded the motion.

The meeting notes were unanimously approved: 13 Aye, 0 Nay

 

ITEM No. 2 – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Royce Smith is out for a while, so John How will serve as Chair and Dean Adams will serve as Vice Chair until Royce returns.

 

ITEM No. 3 – CONSENT AGENDA

None

 

ITEM No. 4 – RECOMMENDATION – NAH Montana Room Art

Candace Mastel presented on behalf of Alissa Taysom. 

 

The Public Art Committee previously approved the three pieces of art installed in the Montana Room in Norm Asbjornson Hall.

  1. “State of Mine,” a bronze wall-mounted sculpture by Mitch Billis, was purchased by the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. The sculpture is in the shape of the state of Montana, with blue LED lights shining through openings depicting lakes and rivers, with precious gems and gold stars or cattle skulls marking significant areas of the state.  Norm’s hometown of Winnifred is marked with a diamond.
  2. “Spring Along Knox Ridge Road – Missouri River” is a 5’ x 8’ oil on linen donated by artist Paul Waldum. The painting depicts an area of the Missouri River near Norm Asbjornson’s hometown of Winnifred, Montana.
  3. “Spirit”, a bobcat sculpture created by artist R.L. Slaton, was donated by the Alumni foundation. It is a smaller version of the large bronze original installed at the Alumni Plaza.

 

David Kack moved to approve the three art pieces in the Montana Room of NAH.

Kurt Blunck seconded the motion.

The Vote:  13 Aye, 0 Nay.

 

ITEM No. 5 – RECOMMENDATION – Academic R&R Funding Request for Testing Center

John How presented the recommendation for use of Academic R&R Funds toward the Testing Center expansion project.

The Academic R&R Fund was established in 2001.  In 2012, UFPB was granted presidential approval to manage the fund, which was designed to enhance the general institution and not specific departments.  In 2014, the Testing Center received a small amount of money from this fund to help move the Testing Center to an ADA-accessible site in Renne Library.  Since then, the Testing Center has outgrown this space.  An expansion project scheduled for summer of 2019 includes three private testing rooms and eighteen additional ADA-compliant testing carrels.  The total project budget is $215,000.  $95,000 of that total would come from the Academic R&R Fund. 

Kurt Blunck moved to approve the release of $95,000 from the Academic R&R Fund to be used for the Testing Center expansion project.

Dan Stevenson seconded the motion.

The Vote:  13 Aye, 0 Nay.

 

ITEM No. 6 – RECOMMENDATION – Student Memorial Landscape Redesign

Candace Mastel presented the recommendation to approve the conceptual/schematic landscape redesign for the Student Memorial. 

 

In response to parent and student comments regarding the closed-off, cold, uninviting surroundings of the Student Memorial and its’ lack of visibility, ASMSU and Dean Caires initiated a project to redesign the landscape around Student Memorial.  This student-driven project will improve the visitor experience, visibility and ADA-accessibility of the existing Student Memorial, while providing tiered outdoor seating for the general campus population. 

 

The new design maintains the current memorial structure but removes the obstructive stone walls that prevent views into the space from the adjacent and main diagonal sidewalk that connects Centennial Mall to South 11th Avenue. The removal of the large retaining walls and regrading of the site will open up the view of the memorial structure to people walking along the sidewalk, as well as expand the opportunity for terraced seating integrated into the landscape.  Handicap access will be provided to the memorial structure.  Vegetative landscape materials could enhance the space while providing filtered light and shelter from the sun. Low-level planting could enhance the ground plane and provide interest along the walkways or near the memorial structure.

 

The redesign provides much-needed, multi-dimensional outdoor seating on campus.  Potential uses include celebrations of life, live music, and outdoor study space.  The Alumni Foundation has pledged to match ASMSU fundraising efforts dollar-for-dollar.

 

Dean Adams moved to approve the use of these conceptual/schematic design images of the Student Memorial landscape for fundraising and other ASMSU future uses.

Glen Steinhoff seconded the motion.

The Vote:  13 Aye, 0 Nay.

 

ITEM No. 7 – RECOMMENDATION – Campus Wayfinding Element Standard Design Concept

Candace Mastel presented the recommendation to approve the NAH blade signage design and materials as a campus standard for wayfinding and parking.

 

When Norm Asbjornson Hall (NAH) was under construction, kiosk-style blade signs were installed at the four corners of the building in the sidewalk areas.  These wayfinding elements work well for parking lots and general campus areas.  CPDC would like to use this same style blade sign as the general campus standard. The general design and style of the sign is suitable for use with modifiable graphics or signage elements. CPDC is working with a consultant and University Communications to determine the exact design of the graphics and signage elements.  Forty-eight parking lot locations and twenty general campus locations have been identified for wayfinding signage.  The goal is to have many of these installed prior to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in March 2020, when four to five thousand visitors will be walking around campus.

The material is fabricated steel, which would then be wrapped with vinyl.  The design is simple, easily replicated and scalable.  The design and materials are not proprietary, so MSU will not be locked into a single vendor.  A coated, vinyl wrap typically lasts five to seven years.  The signs will not be illuminated.  Glen suggested that now would be a great time of year to visit the potential sign locations, to make sure the signs are not planned for areas of snow removal.

Duane Morris moved to approve the blade sign general design as a campus standard for wayfinding and parking.

Leslie Schmidt seconded the motion.

The Vote:  13 Aye, 0 Nay.

 

 

ITEM No. 8 – RECOMMENDATION – UFPB Name Change to USPB

John How presented the recommendation to change the committee name from University Facilities Planning Board to University Services Planning Board, to align with the University Services division on campus.  Kurt Blunck asked how facilities, such as buildings, should be reflected in the name, as facilities are one of UFPB’s primary responsibilities.  Dr. Bajwa, being new to MSU, thought the name University Services implied student resources.

 

Duane Morris moved to approve the name change from UFPB to USPB.

David Kack seconded the motion.

The Vote:  13 Aye, 0 Nay.

 

Of note:  John How emailed members asking if the board had any issues with tabling the recommendation until next meeting to discuss further.  No one had an issue with tabling the recommendation for two weeks.

 

Horizon Items

  • Donor Plaque Design Criteria
  • American Indian Hall Schematic Design
  • Haynes Kiln Yard Fence
  • South Campus Master Plan
  • Grant Street Traffic Calming