Hendrix to raise $100M for program, tech center

Hendrix College alumni have always been passionate about their alma mater and now, thanks to their generous donations, the college has been able to increase its current capital campaign goal to an unprecedented $100 million.

According to Hendrix President J. Timothy Cloyd, the previous goal was $70 million and the administration hoped to reach that by the end of 2008. Now that the initial goal has been nearly met over a year early, the Board of Trustees has expanded the campaign by $30 million and lengthened it to go through 2010.

"We have had some very generous donors who were inspired by the Wellness and Athletics Center, and we have also had several who were inspired by the Odyssey Program," Cloyd said Monday. "We really just had a great momentum and strength from our alumni and friends to meet that goal."

Mark Scott, public relations director for Hendrix, said one thing about Hendrix alumni is that they are remain enthusiastic and passionate about seeing the school succeed for years after they graduate.

The resources from this $100 million campaign goal will go to serve two purposes: to fully endow the college's Odyssey Program and to construct one of the most advanced technology centers in the state, according to Cloyd.

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The Student Life and Technology Center will be an 80,000-square-foot building to be constructed where Hendrix's Grove Gymnasium once stood on the east side of campus and will offer students "the best of both worlds."

This building, which Cloyd said will replace Hulen Hall, will have a cafe, a student center and a religious life center, but the distinguishing feature of the facility will be the one-of-a-kind Educational Technology Center.

"We live in a 'YouTube' generation and all of our students are constantly using some type of technology," Cloyd said. "Many students use four different technologies simultaneously and that's just the way they work, and it is also the way they study."

The comforts of the Burrow in Hulen Hall will also be replicated in this "living room" environment, Cloyd said.

Cloyd said it won't be like the computer labs of the past in which the environment was sterile and quiet. He added he hopes students use the center for several different aspects of their lives.

The Educational Technology Center will include a video conference room, a practice room for students, digital editing

suites and computer workstations with Smart boards that accept student laptop and hand-held connections.

"This center will have a functionality that will go beyond the college and into different community groups, too," Cloyd said. "The educational technology center can be used as a demonstration center for teachers to learn how to incorporate technology into their classrooms."

Cloyd said construction is expected to begin in February of next year and be completed by December 2009.

The original funds raised through the capital campaign successfully increased endowment support for the Odyssey program, according to Cloyd, and the funds from the new $100 million goal will go toward funding the program in perpetuity. The funds from the campaign will also provide 12 new Odyssey professorships.

According to a press release, this program requires Hendrix students to complete three hands-on liberal arts experiences during the undergraduate career in six different areas and allows students to seek out educational opportunities outside of the classroom.

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)