Students may see a new look in on-campus living as early as 2005, which University officials say is a great step for the University. Mike Davis, assistant vice president for business affairs,procurement and plant operations, said there is no guarantee of the exact plans for the residence halls, but plans could include renovating all existing residence halls or possibly demolishing the current residence halls to create new ones.

“It all depends on the money situation,” Davis said, “but we’re very interested in trying to upgrade the residence halls either through renovations or construction of new buildings.”

Davis said that if the University can keep room rates in approximately the same range as the current cost even with the construction of new residence halls, that will probably be the direction the University will move toward.

The University is currently waiting for an approval by the Board of Supervisors to select a company that would work with the University in determining what approach should be taken in the area of residence hall renovations.

The proposed area for the possible new residence halls would be to focus them around the library and Student Union area. This, according to Davis, would put the new residence halls in close proximity to the current ones.

If the idea of the construction of new housing were to become a reality, the University would have to plan where to put residents while the construction was taking place. Davis said the idea would be a “leap frog effect.” This would mean that one building would be built; students would be moved into the new hall while their building would be demolished and re-constructed, and so on until all the new halls are completed.

“The key to this plan is to not disrupt the students,” Davis said. “You can’t shut down your residential services and your students have nowhere to stay.”

Davis emphasized that this proposed new residence hall move would greatly impact the university in a positive manner.

“In three to four years,” Davis said, “this campus will look dramatically different from what it looks like today.”

Gray Bekurs, director of residential services, shares Davis’ idea.

“We need to do something sooner rather than later to help keep us competitive with our sister universities,” Bekurs said.