University of Mount Olive to build two new dormitories
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 6, 2015 1:46 PM
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This is an artist's rendering of what the two new residence halls at the University of Mount Olive will look like. The university also is building a path to connect the campus with its student apartment complex on Wooten Street.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Ground has been broken and construction will begin soon on two new residence halls at the University of Mount Olive to keep up with the university's growing traditional student enrollment.
Construction is also being planned for a pathway that will facilitate travel between the residence halls area and the Byrd Apartment Complex located at 207 Wooten St.
Construction on both projects is expected to be completed by the time students return in the fall.
The facilities are being built adjacent to the existing Whitfield-Herring Apartment Complex, and behind the Nancy Chapman Cassell softball field.
Each three-story residence hall is designed to accommodate 36 upper class students in six-person suites. Each suite will have six private bedrooms, a common area that includes a kitchen and a living room, a bathroom with multiple private showers, and a deck.
The residence halls were designed by Dunn & Dalton Architects of Kinston and are being constructed by Daniels and Daniels of Goldsboro. The estimated cost of construction is $2.4 million.
With nearly 60 percent of the traditional student body living on campus, the new residence halls are a much-needed addition, university officials said.
"Construction of the two new residence halls has been prompted by the continual enrollment growth of the campus and the increased demand for on-campus housing," said Dan Sullivan, vice president for student affairs. "Last August, we were almost unable to accommodate all of the requests for housing, and early indications from our admissions office are showing another increase in enrollment for the fall of 2015.
"We know that having our students living on campus contributes to success in and out of the classroom."
"Over the past decade we have introduced new majors, increased our athletics offerings, made a strong commitment to the arts, increased our financial aid, and invested in our facilities," University President Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter said. "All of these factors, and other initiatives, have led to an increase in traditional student enrollment and retention and the demand for more student housing. It's an exciting time to be at the University of Mount Olive."
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The university, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College.