WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000 I'm excited about the new Science Center because I think it'll really benefit the students 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 having newer equipment, once you get into a job field knowing how to use it. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.000 It's going to be so great to see just a brand new building, more supplies, 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 more space, everything. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:24.000 I really think the new building will bring a lot of new excitement for science onto the campus. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Hello. My name is Mark Weiss. I'm both delighted and privileged to serve as your president of Western Oregon University. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:46.000 Today I'm here to talk about the new DeVolder Family Science Center, the most urgent and pressing need 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:52.000 the most urgent and pressing need identified in the Campus Master Plan of 2011 through 2020. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:59.000 This plan was developed with full participation of faculty, staff, students, 00:00:59.000 --> 00:00:62.000 and community participation as well. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:10.000 The building will be a 22,000-square-foot, two-story building with six laboratories and other academic space. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:17.000 The primary product in the new building will be to upgrade facilities to 21st century standards in terms of environmental health, 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:23.000 and HVAC systems and mechanical systems. Our current building is about 40 years old. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:29.000 While we've done a good job of maintaining it and remodeling labs, like this one we're in right now, 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:36.000 we also have needs-- deeper needs in terms of the deeper infrastructure to provide primarily servicing in the chemistry area. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:41.000 Also, we had enough room to accommodate the anatomy and physiology portions of biology. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:48.000 Technology has changed so much in the last 30 years, and to actually have a new building that has state-of-the-art 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:53.000 technology will allow us to be much more effective in our teaching of material to our students. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:59.000 DeVolder Family Science Center came about through the good graces of the state legislature, 00:01:59.000 --> 00:01:63.000 which actually funded the majority of it and required that the 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:09.000 university fund several million dollars through fundraising and other activities. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:16.000 Without the support of families like the DeVolders and many others 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:22.000 that are part of our campus community, this building would simply not be a reality. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Norma and I decided to commit to the science project because we believe it's all about the students and about 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:38.000 providing a facility in which they're able to learn and advance into whatever careers they may choose to do. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:44.000 It's important for Western right now, it was on their business plan, and so we decided to do it. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.000 I'm just really looking forward to the new science building, 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:52.000 the new environment and all the advanced technology, and my career in nursing. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:56.000 The new DeVolder Center is going to really make it so our students are going to be able to learn 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:62.000 modern techniques, new equipment, and it'll prepare them well to go on to graduate school 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:05.000 and to have great careers in chemistry. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:11.000 For other students, even if they're not in a medical field, there's a lot of other professions or ways to use that. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.000 So it becomes very important to Ron and I both. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.000 I remember being in what's now the Administration Building. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:26.000 I remember going into those little rooms. We had a very small class. I don't think we had six or eight, 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:33.000 maybe 10 people-- and I remember hanging out in the Administration Building, 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:37.000 doing lab work with buddies. Clearly 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:44.000 it's just important for students to be able to have lab space, to get lab time. I mean, nobody wants to go to Sunday labs. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.000 Natural science students have a lot of opportunities to go into research, 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:56.000 so they could go into graduate programs in all kinds of different fields, in biochemistry, in biology, 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.000 in environmental science 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:61.000 And for us to be able to learn all that new technology will prepare us better for when we 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:05.000 graduate and are able to use that technology in our work field. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.000 I just can't give enough thanks to Ron DeVolder and his family. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 I've been working with him now for several years concerning the Pre-Nursing Program 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:19.000 and the fact that he donated not to just a particular program but to an entire building that's going to help out students 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:25.000 across the natural sciences-- it really says a lot for the individuals who 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:30.000 really care about the education of the students and want to see them have the best 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.000 opportunity in the best environment they can to succeed in the future. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:40.000 We also have two other major contributors. One is an Oregon trust, 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:45.000 and also Osram Sylvania, which is a Siemens company, 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:52.000 and it provides all the lighting and green technology inside the building 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.000 for a really state-of-the-art facility 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:60.000 We've worked very hard to make sure we have public spaces where the student can basically gather, 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.000 can hang out and study science. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:07.000 This is just a little piece of the puzzle as we move forward for Western. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:13.000 I want to personally thank you for your support and taking the time to learn about the new 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:20.000 DeVolder Family Science Center and the impact that it will have on Western Oregon University academic 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:24.000 programs and students for generations to come.