In January, SVSU officials approved the construction of a $900,000 140-seat recital and lecture hall, known as Founders Hall. It is intended for weddings, memorial services, forums, debates, musical recitals and lectures. It is located north of College Drive and east of Pine Grove apartments. Construction began in mid-October.

President Eric R. Gilbertson appointed a team of 11 faculty and staff members to update the SVSU campus plan. "I believe it is important for us to rethink and re-develop a Master Plan for the SVSU campus," Gilbertson said.

Michigan Governor John Engler joined several members of the state legislature and about 200 other well wishers at the August 4 groundbreaking for SVSU's West Complex (formerly known as the Business and Professional Development Building). Once completed, the $33.5 million multipurpose facility would serve as the main entryway to the university's core campus and link the Leland L. Doan Center with the Arbury Fine Arts Center. "This ground breaking is an event of great importance to SVSU," Engler said. "You have just celebrated 30 years of educational leadership and excellence here in the tri-county region. Your institution has been thriving, and the West Complex will surly be the crown jewel of your core campus." A three-story glass-enclosed atrium in the heart of the West Complex would be named Groening Commons after William A. Groening, a member of the group that worked to create both SVSU and Delta College. He also served as the first chairman of the SVSU Board of Control. As the largest building on campus, the West Complex includes a 556-seat performing arts auditorium and support facilities, a 292-seat recital hall, a 1,000-seat conferencing center equipped with two-way audio-visual media technology, multipurpose classrooms and computer laboratory space.

The new Food Court in the Doan Center opened in September and features a new serving area, kitchen and dining area.

The Triskellions, first established in 1968 as a women's organization that helped raise money for the university, disbanded on September 30. During the past 26 years the organization raised about $300,000 to provide scholarships for SVSU students by selling soft drinks and miscellaneous items on campus and through other fund-raising events. The name "Triskellions" symbolized the communities of Bay City, Midland and Saginaw radiating from the central point of the SVSU campus.

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools decided to continue SVSU's accreditation through 2004. The decision concluded a year-long evaluation. SVSU was first accredited by NCA in 1970, with reviews in 1974, 1979 and 1987. The 10-year accreditation is the longest in the university's history.

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Last modified April 24, 2001