Tusculum readies for new and returning students

Students arrive on campus this week and next week. Student athletes reported to campus Thursday, August 13, while new students and returning students arrive Monday, August 17, and Saturday, August 23.

Work is ongoing this week in several buildings on the Tusculum College campus in the final days before students arrive.

Craig Hall and Haynes Hall dormitories have officially made the move from “old army barrack style” metal furniture to solid oak beds and desks, a change very much appreciated by returning students. Installation of the sturdy new furniture, which has a natural wood finish, took place last month. In addition, rooms in Craig and Haynes have been completely remodeled, with new paint, new ceilings, new lighting and recarpeted lobbies.

Katherine Hall dormitory has been improved with all new walls, floors and ceilings. Bathrooms in both Katherine Hall and the Charles Oliver Gray complex are also greatly enhanced, with the addition of new fiberglass “shower surrounds” (showerheads, faucets and knobs), as well as new urinals and an exhaust system in Katherine. The hallways and lobby of Katherine also have been improved with all new floor tile.

All dorms also got additional washers and dryers this summer. “We’ve almost doubled the capacity of washers and dryers in all residence halls,” said Physical Plant Director Darryl Cox, who also added that, overall, the maintenance staff has taken on “more capital improvement projects than we’ve ever tried to do in one summer.”

In addition to the building renovations, the Pioneer Field is also taking on a new look thanks to construction by C & C Millwright Maintenance Company, which is building new home team bleachers for more of a “stadium” effect, a new scoreboard donated by Coca-Cola, and new storm drains done by Merkel Construction.