The Ferris State University Board of Trustees approved the renewal of
a lease agreement with Grand Rapids Community College for space at the
Applied Technology Center in Grand Rapids for up to four additional
five-year terms during its meeting today (March 25). Ferris trustees
also approved the award of an honorary Ferris doctorate in Business and
Industry to Ken Mooyman and an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from
Kendall College of Art and Design for Peter Lawrence to be awarded in
May 2011.
Ferris and GRCC have had a lease agreement in place since 1989 and an initial 20-year lease term commenced on July 17, 1991 with four additional five-year automatic renewal terms. That agreement expires July 16, 2011 for the space located at 143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids. The first renewal commences on July 17, 2011.
“The Applied Technology Center was the first example of a two-year college and a four-year state university joining together to develop an educational resource of such magnitude,” said Don Green, vice president for Extended and International Operations at Ferris. “The ATC has served as a model for similar facilities across the nation.
“We appreciate the powerful partnership we share with Grand Rapids Community College,” he added. “Our collaboration provides economic advantages to West Michigan students and the community.”
Ferris plans to continue to utilize space in the ATC for offices and instructional facilities for the College of Professional and Technological Studies during the next five-year term and beyond. Currently, the leased space houses approximately 98 full-and part-time employees and provides instructional space for approximately 1,000 Ferris students.
“Ferris has enjoyed a great partnership with Grand Rapids Community College for an extended period of time including leasing space in the Applied Technology Center for the last 20 years,” said Jerry Scoby, vice president for Administration and Finance. “This space is incredibly important to our off-campus programming.”
“This site is very important to us in our off-campus programming as well as our Grand Rapids presence with the proximity to our Kendall College of Art and Design, and the current renovation of the former Federal Building for Kendall College of Art and Design programming,” he added.
Trustees approved the honorary doctorate degree for Mooyman, who currently is president and CEO of Leica Geosystems Inc., which has its Americas Region Headquarters based in Norcross, Ga. As president and CEO, he is responsible for Leica Geosystems Surveying, Machine Control, Scanning, Construction and Geospatial businesses in North and Central America. University officials considered Mooyman’s service to his industry and passion for Ferris as truly reflective of his dedication and commitment to education and service.
KCAD selected Lawrence, of the Corporate Design Foundation of Boston, as a recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Arts degree. School officials base the selection of Lawrence on its criteria of choosing individuals who have significantly impacted the quality of art and design.
Trustees also approved sabbatical leave requests for the following faculty and projects:
College of Arts and Sciences: Sandra Brigance, Fall, 2011; John Jablonski, Spring 2012
College of Business: Lianne Briggs, Fall 2011 through Spring 2012; Ann Gilley, Spring 2012.
College of Engineering Technology: Patrick English, Fall 2011, pending internship acceptance.
College of Education and Human Services: Nancy Lashaway-Bokina, Fall 2011; Hikaru Murata, Fall 2011.
College of Pharmacy: Mary Frances Ross, Fall 2011 through Spring 2012 (and possibly Summer 2012) – pending program acceptance.
In other business, the board approved the following:
The next full meeting of the board is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 13.
