New Business College at Xavier

[boozehound]

I have my first class in the new business College tonight. Wow is this building nice!

It is such an improvment over the old Hailstones Hall that it is amazing. State of the art, spacious classrooms. Multiple 'lounges' with doors for group work. Everything is all nice and new.

The campus itself looks incredible as well. Ledgwood is now a wide, divided road with a grass median in the center. They have added parking right outside the new business college (although not really enough...)

Those of you who haven't seen Xavier's campus since the end of last years basketball season will be in for a surprise next time you are here.

There are also several more buildings currently being built. The down economy definitely isn't slowing Xavier's progress any.

[SlimKibbles]

Yeah I had my first class in there Monday night as well. Very nice building. Going to take a bit to know where everything is. I was a little disappointed that everyone and their mother parked in the lot right behind the building, which meant me parking by Cintas, but I'm not surprised. I guess that is going to be an issue every night. I will have to come up with a contingency plan for parking. Maybe the alumni lot or on the street along Woodburn.

[boozehound]

I'm with you on the parking. They really should have built a garage there, probably.

I think that my #2 parking option is going to be at the alumni lot.

I also got to check out the bookstore yesterday. They don't have any new Nike gear at all that I saw. That doesn't surprise me at all based on the expertise of the folks running the bookstore.

[coasterville95]

Good to hear the building is everything its been made out to be. I go past campus twice a day so watching the transformation has been stunning. No sooner did construction wind down on the Hoff Quad, that the new residence hall/ dining hall started to go up. I want to say it looks like its gone vertical to at least 4 floors now.

I recall reading in one of the news pieces that the down economy, while putting Xavier Square on hold, is actually benefiting Xavier. Reason being is that from an interview with one of the guys from Messer revealed that Xavier got a great price for the project, due to being in the position to build while everybody else is sitting back and waiting for the upswing.

So what's with the scaffolding on the front of the old business college? Have they said what is going into that space?

I note on the reunion weekend that tours of the new facilities are part of the event. I'm class of 95, and I'm trying to think it is every 5th or 10th year that is 'specially invited' Last I checked only the preliminary highlights have been announced not a full schedule wth prices.

[boozehound]

Good to hear the building is everything its been made out to be. I go past campus twice a day so watching the transformation has been stunning. No sooner did construction wind down on the Hoff Quad, that the new residence hall/ dining hall started to go up. I want to say it looks like its gone vertical to at least 4 floors now.

I recall reading in one of the news pieces that the down economy, while putting Xavier Square on hold, is actually benefiting Xavier. Reason being is that from an interview with one of the guys from Messer revealed that Xavier got a great price for the project, due to being in the position to build while everybody else is sitting back and waiting for the upswing.

So what's with the scaffolding on the front of the old business college? Have they said what is going into that space?

I note on the reunion weekend that tours of the new facilities are part of the event. I'm class of 95, and I'm trying to think it is every 5th or 10th year that is 'specially invited' Last I checked only the preliminary highlights have been announced not a full schedule wth prices.


I have not heard anything about the future plans for the old business college. I also do not know what they are planning to do with Alter Hall, other than that they are deciding if they should rehab it or tear it down. My vote is to tear it down, because it is a craphole.

[xnatic03]

I believe the grad school/college of education will be moving into Hailstones, while the psychology department will now be the sole department in Elet.

[Titanxman04]

I'm with you on the parking. They really should have built a garage there, probably.

I think that my #2 parking option is going to be at the alumni lot.

I also got to check out the bookstore yesterday. They don't have any new Nike gear at all that I saw. That doesn't surprise me at all based on the expertise of the folks running the bookstore.

Their next shipment from Nike is on September 15th. You won't see any of the new gear until then.

[xudash]

I have not heard anything about the future plans for the old business college. I also do not know what they are planning to do with Alter Hall, other than that they are deciding if they should rehab it or tear it down. My vote is to tear it down, because it is a craphole.

I believe they're doing roof work on the Hailstones building.

It's my understanding that Alter Hall is history. They have absolutely no intention of pursuing a rehab job. Believe me, if you've been by to view the Conaton and Smith Hall, you'll conclude that there is nothing they could do with Alter that would get it up to an acceptable level from an architectural point of view to sit there with those buildings.

Otherwise, this has been a major success for Xavier, timing wise, in that construction costs are comparatively lower now given the down market. I suspect that they'll do everything they can to continue to take advantage of it: a new Alter Hall with some modified plan to begin Xavier Square coming in behind it.

[Emp]

I hope not to offend sensibilities here......

I have some Hailstones connections. My mother went to high school with Tom Hailstones, and I taught one of his sons.

I don't think Xavier was taking the Biz School very seriously before, and during the initial parts of, Hailstones career at Xavier. Few Jebbies on the faculty meant less of an ear to the administration. It was an MBA mill that catered to the working professional, and a middling undergrad school. It was treated as a moneymaker, not a serious academic center.

I think that Conaton's presence on the board finally turned that around for good. The working MBA remains a core piece, but the upgrades in facilities are heartening. I hope facilities improvements are being paralleled with a staffing upgrade.

[coasterville95]

[QUOTE=xudash;210170]I believe they're doing roof work on the Hailstones building.

It's my understanding that Alter Hall is history. They have absolutely no intention of pursuing a rehab job. Believe me, if you've been by to view the Conaton and Smith Hall, you'll conclude that there is nothing they could do with Alter that would get it up to an acceptable level from an architectural point of view to sit there with those buildings.

[QUOTE]

That's my understanding as well, that when tasked with trying to renovate Alter, the conclusion was made to just tear it down and start over. That decision may also have been in light of the favorable rates they have been getting thanks to the down economy.
Has anybody noted the lone house that stands out by Schott Tower. Looks like the place caught fire on the interior some time ago. I'm surprised that hasnt been torn down, if for no other reason than to rid the campus of that eyesore.

[Masterofreality]

I have my first class in the new business College tonight. Wow is this building nice!

It is such an improvment over the old Hailstones Hall that it is amazing. State of the art, spacious classrooms. Multiple 'lounges' with doors for group work. Everything is all nice and new.

The campus itself looks incredible as well. Ledgwood is now a wide, divided road with a grass median in the center. They have added parking right outside the new business college (although not really enough...)

Those of you who haven't seen Xavier's campus since the end of last years basketball season will be in for a surprise next time you are here.

There are also several more buildings currently being built. The down economy definitely isn't slowing Xavier's progress any.

Yep. Took a tour this morning. It is truly state of the art.

Booze, the "down economy" actually has really worked in Xavier's favor in two ways:
A) The interest rates being down allowed XU to restructure their debt at a much lower rate and B) The slow economy allowed building bids to come in $12 million below what were anticipated for the new business college building. These two facts allowed XU to start new dorm construction now. There will be an additional 525 beds available by this time next year. The only downside with the economy is that, with retail in the dumper, the "Xavier Square" shopping center is on hold- and with it the proposed new student recreation center.

[xudash]

[QUOTE=xudash;210170]I believe they're doing roof work on the Hailstones building.

It's my understanding that Alter Hall is history. They have absolutely no intention of pursuing a rehab job. Believe me, if you've been by to view the Conaton and Smith Hall, you'll conclude that there is nothing they could do with Alter that would get it up to an acceptable level from an architectural point of view to sit there with those buildings.

[QUOTE]

That's my understanding as well, that when tasked with trying to renovate Alter, the conclusion was made to just tear it down and start over. That decision may also have been in light of the favorable rates they have been getting thanks to the down economy.
Has anybody noted the lone house that stands out by Schott Tower. Looks like the place caught fire on the interior some time ago. I'm surprised that hasnt been torn down, if for no other reason than to rid the campus of that eyesore.

The resident died, and was an A1 a-hole when he/she was alive as I understand it. X has decided to wait them out, especially now that the place isn't worth crap since it was gutted by the fire you mentioned.

Like everything else around there, X will get this piece resolved as well, but it may make for an interesting betting pool to guess the timing.

[xudash]

I hope not to offend sensibilities here......

I have some Hailstones connections. My mother went to high school with Tom Hailstones, and I taught one of his sons.

I don't think Xavier was taking the Biz School very seriously before, and during the initial parts of, Hailstones career at Xavier. Few Jebbies on the faculty meant less of an ear to the administration. It was an MBA mill that catered to the working professional, and a middling undergrad school. It was treated as a moneymaker, not a serious academic center.

I think that Conaton's presence on the board finally turned that around for good. The working MBA remains a core piece, but the upgrades in facilities are heartening. I hope facilities improvements are being paralleled with a staffing upgrade.

You may want to get updated on the accreditation standings for the business school, as well as its part time MBA ranking and entrepreneurial program ranking and MHA Program ranking..............

[Emp]

Dash, how about a link, I would be curious to see rankings.

[boozehound]

I think that the MBA school is a Top 25 Part-Time MBA program nationally according to US News and World Report.

[An X Fan]

Dash, how about a link, I would be curious to see rankings.

Here are miscellaneous rankings: www.xavier.edu/williams/about/ranking.cfm (http://www.xavier.edu/williams/about/ranking.cfm).

[Porkopolis]

It is thrilling to see all of the change taking place at Xavier. I received my M.Ed. in 2008; the approaches to campus from Dana and Montgomery are almost unrecognizable as the same place I attended school.

[theprofessor]

I know it's semantics.. but the college is still the same (the Williams College of Business). The building (Smith Hall) is new!

Emperor, I think your perspective on the business school is a little outdated. Actually, I would argue that the building is now up to par with the staff (and students, faculty, administration, and mentors), which had already been upgraded over the years. Michael Conaton has been a great advocate for the school, but the credit should be spread from the president, deans, faculty, and (particularly) the administrative staff (I'm faculty not staff so don't think I'm tooting my own horn).

The rankings are sort of a tricky thing.... Historically, US News had a list of top part time MBA programs, which X always ranked in the top 14-20. Then last year, they totally changed their system eliminating the part-time only rankings, but adding rankings for programs and specializations. So, that's why it seems a little inconsistent on that web page.

[SlimKibbles]

Not sure about you, boozehound, but I really, really wish they had more parking behind Smith Hall. It sucks on class night trying to park. Unless I get there by 5:15 or 5:20, which I never do, I don't even bother trying to park there. I just walk from Cintas. Still a little leery about parking on Woodburn if it's too dark out and it's a non-game night.

[boozehound]

More parking would be good, but some parking is still better than no parking!

I hear that they are going to be building a parking garage at some point that will improve the parking situation exponentially.

[Muskie1000]

It is thrilling to see all of the change taking place at Xavier. I received my M.Ed. in 2008; the approaches to campus from Dana and Montgomery are almost unrecognizable as the same place I attended school.

you left in 2008, think about the rest of us who have been gone from the campus 15 years+. Heck the business building was the newest place when I went there.

[Muskie]

you left in 2008, think about the rest of us who have been gone from the campus 15 years+. Heck the business building was the newest place when I went there.

Still the biggest change for me is the area around the new university center (which stil reminds me of a hotel lobby) and the fact that those three houses are gone between Kuhlman and Hussman. There's a bunch of extra space in there that wasn't there when I left in 2000.