The future of Viterbo

“You cannot create a vision by yourself,” President Artman told Lumen. “A vision is a community effort.”

And that’s exactly what it took to develop Viterbo’s long-term plan.

The ideas for the long-term plan were a collaborative effort, Artman said, that included input from students, staff, the deans of the schools, Franciscan sisters, and the city of La Crosse over a nine month period.

“Organizations grow or die,” President Rick Artman said. “Organizations cannot stay with the status quo.” 

Artman understands the importance of growth, and has implemented his vision into Viterbo’s long-term plan. 

Viterbo’s strategic plan focuses on four main goals; academic distinction, Catholic identity, access and affordability, and enrollment growth, Artman said. 

To achieve these goals, additional on-campus housing, academic buildings, a new nursing building, and an addition to the Fine Arts Center will be incorporated into Viterbo’s long-term plan. Also included in the long-term plan are a new student center connected to the Mathy Center and an improvement in the outdoor athletic facility. 

By 2013, Artman is hoping to have seen undergraduate enrollment grow from 1,400 to 2,000 students and total enrollment reach 5,000. Viterbo is tuition dependent, Artman said, and therefore, the implementation of the long term plan relies on enrollment. 

Artman also recognizes that students are impressed by modern facilities. “Viterbo needs outstanding facilities to attract good students and faculty,” Artman said. 

Artman cannot know when the long-term plan will be complete as financials depend on growth and resources. However, Artman’s first priority in the long-term plan is the construction of the nursing building. 

The cost of the nursing building will be $16-17 million so far. $10.5 million has been collected from alumni pledges. The Board of Trustees will allow construction to start on the nursing building once $13 million has been raised, Artman said.

The goal is to begin construction of the nursing building in the summer of 2010, and to occupy the building in the fall of 2011, Artman said. The current nursing building would then be used for transition space.

The next priority would be on-campus housing, Artman said. The “Residential Quadrangle” will include new apartment style housing for fall of 2012, Artman predicted.  The new housing will be located across from McDonald, which will no longer exist in the future, in the current parking lot at Eighth and Market Streets.

The apartment style residence hall will cost approximately $6-7 million and will be paid for through room and board costs, Artman said.

Parking will also be a high priority in the long-term plan. Eighty parking spots will be lost when the new nursing building is built, Artman said. For the short term, surface parking will be added around campus. In the long-term plan, partnering with Franciscan Skemp to build a parking garage is being discussed.    

Other additions to campus when the funding becomes available, Artman said, include a new student center to be attached to the Mathy and Varsity Athletic Center, which will hold such resources as counseling, the Registrar’s Office, and Health Services. 

Artman said the Fine Arts Center will receive a gallery space for the art department, addition dance studios, and a new performing arts auditorium seating 500-600 people. 

More lounge space and new Masters of Business Administration style classrooms will be added to the Murphy Center, Artman said. A plaza is also projected to extend into the courtyard attached to the back of the Murphy Center, eliminating the current fountain. 

The outdoor athletic center will also receive improvements in the long-term plan.  Bathrooms, concessions, and better lighting will be put in. A track for a future track and field team will be added to the outdoor facility as well as more parking, Artman said.