If ETSU has looked more like a construction site than a college campus for the past year, there is a reasonable explanation: The university is expanding and renovating to accommodate the increasing number of students entering its doors.
With a record-breaking enrollment topping 13,000 students for the fall semester it is likely that more people will be attending ETSU in the upcoming years.
The first wave of these progressive plans started quietly last summer with the renovation of Luntsford Hall and became obvious with the addition of Governors Hall.
Governors Hall made up for some of the housing demands, but losing McCord and Cooper in mid-October pushed the Department of Housing and Residence Life “to get creative” said Bonnie Burchett, director of housing and residence life.
When classes commenced, students found that many residence halls had been adjusted to meet these demands.
At Buccaneer Village and Powell Hall students found themselves sharing their room with an extra roommate. Those living in Lucille Clement Hall have adjusted to rooms that were intended to be lounge areas.
Other space was needed and the housing department had to find places for the 58 male students that they were not able to accommodate on campus when classes began. These students were housed a couple of miles off campus at the Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn.
Most of those students have been placed in on-campus housing because of attrition.Twelve male students still remain at the Comfort Inn. Burchett said these students will be in residence hall rooms by the end of this week.
The future holds more phases of the comprehensive residential plan.
Renovation in Luntsford Hall is already complete with new apartment-style housing. Luntsford offers almost 400 extra beds to campus.
Thirty- to 40-year-old buildings such as Powell Hall, Dossett Hall and West Hall will undergo complete renovations by 2011.
Carter Hall will be closed until fall 2008 for renovations and Buccaneer Village will follow with a deadline in 2014.
Lucille Clement Hall will be closed for construction next summer and will reopen in fall 2008.
A new sprinkler system and HVAC unit will need to be installed in addition to other processes that will bring these buildings up to date.
“Construction shows vitality and a willingness to progress,” Burchett said.

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