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With basketball season winding down, I thought this would be a good time to bring this up. VU recently posted an updated campus map on their website, and I found one particular aspect interesting. If you take a look at the map, the buildings shaded in brown appear to be buildings owned by VU. On the north side of the map (highlighted in red) is an abandoned building that appears to have been a department store or warehouse at some point. Did VU acquire this building and/or the land? Was it at all related to Porter Hospital and maybe was part of that acquisition?



I also took some screenshots from Google Maps. As you can see, it's just north of campus and near Trails Inn Liquors.

Looks like VU will break ground in March on a new sorority house complex for the five national sororities on Union Street near the ARC. The six "townhouse style residences" will be complete in December. Afterwards, Scheele Hall will be renovated and opened to the general student population. This new complex will be great for that side of campus, which is quite run-down.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-valpo-sorority-house-st-0215-20150213-story.html

There's a new Valpo Student Life Viewbook (I'm not sure of the official title of the publication), with the headline "Go You. Go Valpo." It's an extremely well-done and professional publication. Take a look at the link below if you want an update on academic programs and student life at Valpo. Updated student statistics are included in the publication.

http://issuu.com/valparaiso-university/docs/look_book_spreads_web

According to the Valpo Athletics Facebook page, there is a "big announcement" coming tomorrow. It says "tomorrow a challenge is coming....are you ready?"

Any ideas? I would guess it's a fundraiser of some sort...

Take a look at this new Valpo commercial: Valparaiso University - Where Passion Meets Purpose

Follow four students as they serve their communities. Also, at the end there is a new slogan: "Valparaiso University: Where passion meets purpose." I continue to be impressed by Valpo's marketing department.....this is an amazing video.

Thoughts?

President Heckler gave a Strategic Plan update to the student senate. According to this Torch article, a new academic building is planned:

"To accommodate for new academic programs and a larger student body, physical changes for campus are in the works as well. Heckler noted the need for biology and chemistry lab space, and introduced the plans for a new building near the Center for the Arts, Kretzmann and Meier Halls."

Does anyone know details of the proposal?

http://www.valpotorch.com/news/article_5a54cc80-3d7d-11e3-aa55-0019bb30f31a.html

I've been thinking about our athletic successes lately, especially in new sports. We added golf and bowling recently, which was a smart yet risky move during the recession. Are there any sports you'd like to see Valpo add? I love that we fill a niche with bowling, but what about hockey? How about rowing, taking advantage of our proximity to Lake Michigan? Lacrosse? Fencing? Wrestling?

Just some thoughts to generate some discussion. 

The Valparaiso University website has unveiled a new look today, after having the old design for about two years. I find it better looking than the old site, but maybe a little less user friendly. It puts a lot more emphasis on student stories and recruitment. Hop on over and check it out.

www.valpo.edu

It seems that not all links have transitioned to the new design yet. A story about the new website is below. One of the coolest features is that the website changes its look based on the device you reach it from. If you go from your smartphone, it works and has a lot more functionality than the old site.

http://www.valpo.edu/news/2012/11/20/valparaiso-university-launches-new-website/

A new video from the Valpo YouTube page: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1f78Ho56yLk

Its called Valpo Misconceptions. Presumably, it is modeled after the Visit California tourism commercial that many of you have probably seen. I wouldn't usually post a video to the forum, but I thought this video was exceptionally well done and deserves a watch. Catchy, short, and informative. Great job!

The Valparaiso Bowling team is one of 8 teams selected to be in the NCAA tournament this year. Congrats ladies!

http://www.ncaa.com/news/bowling/article/2012-03-28/field-set-national-championship

So I went to Valpoathletics.com on my iPad and I noticed it redirected to a mobile page! I then tried it on my smartphone and voila! It looks great and seems very functional. Videos don't seem to work (at least on my Android phone). Is this a known issue? Thanks to whoever put this mobile website together! 

Valpo's first player to be drafted in the MLS was just selected to go to Kansas City. Congratulations to Stefan Antonijevic!

Edit: http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2011-12/11338/valpos-antonijevic-drafted-into-mls-by-sporting-kansas-city/

A few months ago I witnessed the construction of an addition to Wesemann Hall, the main law school building. It turns out that the expansion included a new Career Center and cafeteria/cafe. There are some photos on the Valpo flickr page, and it looks fantastic. If anyone has pictures of the exterior, please post them! This addition, along with the completion of Heritage Hall, a completely redone parking lot, and a new website makes me think Valpo Law is going places! Use this thread for general discussion of the law school as well.

Valpo alum Ginger Zee has been a staple of NBC 5 in Chicago for years, but now has gone onto bigger and better things. This weekend, you'll be able to see her forecasting weather for ABC's Good Morning America, and she will be a weekday contributor as well. See the link for a story and interview. Congrats Ginger! This is great exposure for Valpo.

http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15013805/for-ginger-zee-at-abc-'absolute-dream'-comes-true

JJR, the new design firm for the campus master plan, unveiled its plan. There aren't a ton of details just yet, with more excepted to be revealed in January.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/article_e716cfbe-08c1-5e88-bc00-9603f655103b.html

A $15 million gift has been donated to the university to support Chapel operations and renovations. It was donated by Rev Mark and Kathy Helge, and is one of the largest gifts in university history. The nave windows will be replaced, and some plumbing and technology issues will be addressed. Also, a 9000 sq ft addition will be constructed. More details at the link.

http://www.valpo.edu/news/news.php?releaseId=4640

I thought the baseball team deserved their own thread, seeing as they currently have the nation's longest active winning streak! They take on the University of Hawaii this weekend. Good luck guys! 

I thought I would create a thread about upcoming plans for residence halls on campus, as well as other housing options such as apartments. Please feel free to contribute photos and any news you may have about these projects!
 
  Uptown East, which currently has three buildings mostly for Valpo students, has started construction on their fourth and final building. The picture below from their website shows the fourth building's progress. It is on the site of the former College View apartments (aka the meth apartments, or the ugly red buildings across from LeBien Hall).


Another project that is supposed to be under construction already is University Promenade. This project will consist of two three-story buildings on both sides of University Drive. The first floor will have retail spaces with two-story condos above. They are being marketed toward students I believe. Here is a picture from a NWI Times article. The photo shows the buildings on both sides of University Drive, with Lincolnway on the bottom of the picture and the campus in the background. The building on the left will be built first.

Let's give a big congratulations to the ladies for defeating Michigan State and  winning 8 in a row! Great start to the season. 

With the first stop of the tour of the Strategic Plan only two days away, I thought I would start a thread here for those who've attended to post comments, or just comments in general. Here is a link to the page for more information: http://www.valpo.edu/alumni/events/sp.php
Stops: Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Valparaiso, Chicago, St Louis, Detroit.

President Mark A. Heckler will personally share his update on current and future plans for Valparaiso University during his presentation of "Our Common Pursuit: Valpo's Call to Lead and Serve for the Next Generation." The presentation will highlight the strategic plan for Valparaiso University and will take place at various locations throughout the country.

The strategic plan serves as the University's road map for the next two decades and will chart the course for future success at the institution. This is your opportunity to take an in-depth look at the plan, and to interact with the president, fellow alumni, and friends of Valpo.

VU addition will add lab, demonstration space
http://www.nwi.com/articles/2009/04/02/news/porter/doc7a297123da1b0cdd8625758c0003cb3c.txt

The exterior is almost complete, with a projected completion date of Fall 2011.

Once a center for campus social activities, the site of Valparaiso University's recently demolished old union will soon find a new purpose as a center for learning. Valparaiso University is starting construction this October on a new building that will strengthen Valpo's academic program by supporting the work of its faculty members and facilitating greater interaction between students and their professors.

The University's Board of Directors has approved construction of a three-story, 52,000-square-foot academic building that will add classroom space and consolidate faculty offices in the College of Arts and Sciences. The new building follows the construction of three other buildings in supporting Valpo's vibrant learning environment: the nearly completed Heritage Hall reconstruction project for the School of Law, the Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center and the recently opened Harre Union.

President Mark Heckler said the investment of approximately $18.75 million in the new building will enhance Valpo's academic quality and support the personal character of the University's learning environment.

"Valpo's faculty members are widely recognized for being outstanding teachers who are dedicated to helping each student learn and develop a sense of purpose," said Heckler. "The new academic building will support their work and strengthen the quality of our students' educational experience."

Several academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences will have faculty offices in the new building, in addition to classrooms and administrative offices for the college. Construction of the academic building, which is scheduled for completion in April 2012, will be followed by the renovation of classroom and faculty offices in Meier Hall for Valpo's Department of Education. The department will move from Miller Hall, which will be razed along with Huegli Hall.

Construction will begin immediately to ensure the project is well under way before the onset of winter, and a gathering to bless the project and celebrate its commencement is being planned for later this fall. Details about this event will follow shortly.

Jon Kilpinen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the project will foster greater departmental unity by moving faculty into a central location on campus, while at the same time encouraging more student-faculty interaction by housing faculty offices and classrooms together.

"Our students and faculty will benefit from the greater collaboration between departments and from additional opportunities for one-on-one interaction," Kilpinen said. "The new academic building also will support interdisciplinary innovation as the University explores exciting new academic programs."

The academic building, combined with the University's three ongoing or recently completed projects, represent a more than $110 million investment in the overall quality of the Valpo experience since 2006, Heckler said.

"Combined with our outstanding faculty and staff who help each student chart a unique educational path, this project will ensure Valpo continues to offer a superior learning environment," Heckler said.

EHDD, the architectural firm for the award-winning Christopher Center, also designed the new academic building.