The Rampage Spring 2019

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President David Olive Sets Goals for 2018-2019 by Andre Cardamone Graphic Communication • 2019

B luefield College President Dr. David Olive hopes to accomplish a number of goals in 2018-2019 to improve the academic, athletic, wellness, and residential offerings to BC students. Among the president’s goals is con- tinued progress on fundraising and planning for a new health and well- ness complex on campus. According to the president, the college’s current facilities do not meet the recreation and wellness needs of the growing student body. Plans are to build a new health and wellness complex adjacent to the Dome Gymnasium to address that need. The wellness com- plex will provide much needed locker rooms and physical space for students, athletes, and community members to experience a wide variety of health, athletic and wellness activities.

immediate, intermediate, and long- range plans for new athletic facilities. In fact, work has already begun this year on the development of two athletic fields across College Avenue on the south side of campus. The new fields will provide teams with additional practice space. Dr. Olive said he also hopes 2018-2019 will produce a number of creative partnerships and approaches to higher education for the school. The college has already partnered with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Blacksburg, VA, in the creation of a new Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) degree. •••

The second phase of the health and wellness complex project will fea- ture renovations to the interior and exterior of the Dome Gymnasium, including expanding the seating capacity and creating two practice court surfaces. Future phases of the project will consist of the construction of educational and laboratory space for the exercise and sport science program, which is one of the school’s largest majors, and the creation of new athletic offices, a new training room, and natatorium for additional wellness and recreation. Similar to its need for more wellness and recreation facilities, Dr. Olive said the college wants to begin developing

Dr. David Olive, President