Construction complete on new Athletics Academic Services office

MACOMB, Ill. — Construction recently wrapped up on the newly renovated Western Illinois Athletics Academic Services office on the lower floor of Brophy Hall.

The renovations, which were funded completely through proceeds from the 2008 and 2009 Purple and Gold Auctions and other donations, feature a more private office complex where the Athletics Academic Services staff can give Fighting Leatherneck athletes better support.

Previously, Director of Athletic Academic Services/Senior Woman Administrator Lisa Melz and CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator Sue Danner shared a workspace that was separated from the Brophy Hall computer lab by cubicle partitions. Now, the two have their own offices in which they can meet with student-athletes on a more confidential level.

“The student-athletes are going to have a confidential space to go and talk to either myself or Sue Danner,” Melz said. “Before, there was no privacy. There are a lot of things students need to talk about that they are not as likely to open up about without the privacy. Now, we have two offices with confidential space.”

The new office space features a reception area where the Academic Services graduate assistant will work. The reception area has a window that allows the Academic Services staff to monitor the adjoining Brophy Hall study area. Student-athletes will be able to utilize a swipe-card system in the reception area to check in and out for study hours. In addition to the two staff offices, there is also a third room off the reception area for multi-purpose use.

The Academic Staff plans to move in to the new offices within the next week, pending some light maintenance that still remains to be completed. Eventual updates planned for the new office complex include a wall collage to highlight Western's Academic All-Americans in the reception area and new furniture for the Academic Services staff.

Melz said Athletics Academic Services plans to hold an open house before the 2010 Purple and Gold Auction to show off the new offices so contributors can see what they have invested in.

“This idea has been in the making for five or six years now. It's nice to finally see it come to fruition,” Melz said. “I really want to thank the Purple and Gold organizing committee for allowing Purple and Gold funds to go to this project. Without that, we wouldn't have been able to do this. This is something all athletes can benefit from.”

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