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University Unclear on Communication Department Possible Move to Foundation Hall

Photos throughout this story are a look at the condition of Foundation Hall on April 28 2022. While the Communication Department will not be in these rooms, this is the condition of the building. Photos by Hannah Koster and Bee Goodman.

There are current talks that Tech’s communications department is being moved from the third floor of the RUC to the third floor of Foundation Hall

The head of the Communications Department Brenda Wilson first found out the news after requesting computers from the IT department for the communications lab on the third floor of the RUC. The request came back denied on account that the department’s new location was supposed to be the third flood of Foundation Hall.

The way space is typically allocated at tech is through Tech’s Space Utilization and Allocation Committee. According to the minutes on the website, their last meeting was June 21, 2021. In the minutes from that meeting, there is no mention of the Communications Department moving.

Mark Stephens is the vice president of the Office of the Provost. Stephens is also the executive officer of the Space Utilization and Allocation Committee.

Wilson has tried to set up multiple meetings with the office of the provost and Stephens and has received no reply. Wilson explained, “It’s frustrating to be having people asking me details and me not being able to get any details from the administration.”

Attempts to reach Stephens and the Office of the Provost to comment on this story received no reply.

Still, no one in the Communications Department has received an official statement on the Communication Depart moving.

Wilson and the dean of Interdisciplinary Studies Mike Gotcher toured foundation hall in early April as a potential spot to move the Communications Department. Both Wilson and Gotcher advised against the move for the department.

Wilson believed that the office of the provost had agreed not to move the department to Foundation Hall.

“Our dean met with the provost who told him it would be put on hold,” Wilson said.

On thursday April 28, a group of communications students took a tour of Foundation Hall to gauge students’ reactions to this potential move. After the tour, a group of students gathered on the plaza with signs to protest Tech potentially moving the Communications Department.

There has also been a petition started by the communication students to stop the moving of the Communications department. Currently there are 532 signatures on the change.org page. To sign, please visit https://chng.it/54Z7tynX.

Pictures from inside Foundation Hall taken on April 28, 2022. While the Communication Department will not be located in these room, this is a look at the condition of the building. Photos by Hannah Koster and Bee Goodman.