Despite the 110+ heat wave, MWU's Glendale Campus is in the midst of a major campus expansion plan. Five new buildings are under construction with completion anticipated by summer and fall of 2008. And, to better accommodate our prospective students, applicants, and interviewees, the Office of Admissions has moved to a larger suite of offices at the northwest corner of campus.

With the new College of Dental Medicine welcoming its inaugural class in Fall 2008, two major new academic buildings are being built. Glendale Hall will become the largest building on campus, housing the dental program, along with administrative offices for the medical school and any future programs. It will include classrooms, the simulation lab, and faculty offices. We are also building a large auditorium building, which will provide classroom space for lectures and also allow us to host large campus ceremonies, such as graduation, on campus. Up until now, we have held our graduation ceremonies at off-campus facilities. Beginning in 2009, each college will host its own graduation on our campus in this new facility.



Photo: Foundation being laid for the new Glendale Hall.

To serve the needs of the current student population as well as the new programs, MWU is also adding another building to the Barrel Student Center complex. Additionally, a Recreation & Wellness Hall will feature a state-of-the-art gymnasium and exercise facility with special rooms for music, crafts, and dance/aerobics. An interfaith chapel will also be added to the new "quad" area that will be located behind the current Sahuaro Hall. These new facilities reflect the holistic focus of our campus communities, where students can learn, exercise, and reflect within walking distance of our on-campus housing and our academic classrooms.



Photo: Location of the third phase of Barrel Student Center

In the midst of this burst of construction, the Office of Admissions also has expanded with two new counselors and new administrative staff. They have moved to the "old clinic" building, located at the corner of campus on 59th Avenue. To visit the Admissions Office, you can still enter at the main entrance at 59th and Utopia, and our security staff will direct you to the parking area for Admissions. The virtual tour and printable maps on our  web site also reflect this new location.

So, even in the heat of the desert, MWU continues to grow and build. As I have said for the 11 years that we have been in Glendale, there has never been a dull moment! We have continued our mission of meeting the health care needs of society, while providing our students with comfortable and purposeful campus facilities.