McKenny Hall has been open for a month now, with Career
Services and Human Resources operating out of the renovated
facility. The rest of campus can take the opportunity to
see the new changes during an open house that includes
guided tours and refreshments Thursday, Sept. 20, 2-4 p.m.
Career Services is located in the old bookstore area while
HR occupies space formerly used by Campus Life and the
Eagle Card Office.
When construction of the new Student Center and renovation
of the then-McKenny Union was approved for $45 million
in 2004, future plans for McKenny Hall included providing
administrative offices and event planning services for
use of the ballroom and various meeting rooms.
The ballroom and
meeting rooms received new carpeting and a fresh
coat of paint. While
available for viewing during the open house, these facility
rooms are unavailable for use at this time due to a lack
of funding.
 |
VACANT BALLROOM: The ballroom (above)
in
McKenny Hall was refurbished as part of that
building's $4.3 million renovation project. Due
to lack
of budget funds, it currently sits unavailable for
use,
but can be viewed during the open house. |
"At this point in time, for this fiscal year, those rooms
won't be open for use," said Janice Stroh, Eastern Michigan
University's vice president for business and finance. "Eventually,
the plan is to open them up."
Between the state of Michigan cutting EMU's general fund
budget by $1.2 million and the need for the University
to cut another $5.4 million to balance its 2007-2008 budget,
there was no money available to fund personnel to handle
custodial services, and set-up and take-down needs for
events in McKenny Hall, Stroh said.
"It's a matter of priorities," Stroh said. "We had some
real budget challenges this year. It was one of the hard
decisions that was made."
Proper staffing to handle events at McKenny Hall would
cost approximately $700,000 annually, Stroh said.
The subject will be revisited when the 2008-2009 budget
is discussed, Stroh said.
