Albion College convened its new campus master plan committee to develop a plan for future updates and additions to campus buildings for the first time last month.

The college’s last campus master plan was developed in 1990, according to Troy Van Aken, executive vice president. At that time, the committee made recommendations for renovations of Vulgamore and Robinson Hall, the development of the Kellogg Center, the construction of the Science Complex, improvements to Baldwin and athletic fields, and land acquisition around campus.

“A facilities plan for the next 12-15 years was developed during the previous initiative,” Van Aken said. “This plan was modified and certain projects moved up or down in the prioritization as time moved forward.”

                According to Craig Stangland, Columbia City, Ind. Junior and student representative to the committee, the committee, comprised of 21 total faculty, staff, and student representatives, will be talking to faulty and staff to collect information on what they believe most needed to be updated.

“We were told we can do anything we want.” Stangland said. “No idea was wrong. I think when it comes down to making decision as to what will and won’t go in the plan – that’s when [decision-making] going to get hard.”

Among possible updates discussed in the committee’s first meeting were suggestions for the renovation of residential buildings, the Mudd-Stockwell library, and the Dow recreation and wellness center, said Stangland.

 “You always want to see the college grow,” said Craid Stangland, Columbia City, Ind. junior and student representative to the committee. “I think even  if you aren’t going to see the changes while you are a student here, you want to be able to come back and see the improvements.”

 “For me, it’s something that I’ll be able come back to and say, ‘I was a part of that’,” Stangland said. According to Stangland, the committee hopes to release the campus master plan in April 2009.