Three alumni recently donated a total of $5 million to be used to finance a new alumni center.
Alumni Jerry and Marilyn Hayden and alumnus Bob Clark and his wife Kathleen have donated $2.5 million each.
University President Joanne Glasser said she hopes construction will begin next spring.
She said the donations are a “catalyst” to move ahead with the planning, but additional support is necessary. The projected cost of the center is $12 million, according to a university press release.
The donations were announced during the Founder’s Day ceremonies.
The center will be called the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. It will be built on the west side of Bradley Hall and overlook a new Alumni Quad.
The center will be 34,700 square feet and will include a ballroom that can seat more than 200 guests.
An alumni library, conference rooms and an alumni hall of pride will also be included in the center.
The new alumni center is part of the university’s Renaissance Campaign that will address campus needs.