In keeping with the university’s strategic intent to make University education more available to students across the country and the region, the campus has committed to expanding its physical facilities to ensure that the rapidly increasing student body will continue to enjoy a top quality, educational experience.

With a student enrollment targeted to reach approximately 16,000 day students by 2007 and 5,000 more in the Evening University by 2010, enrollment has been escalating on campus over the last four years.

Although the increased enrollment has stretched the university’s resources and there have been some “growing pains”, significant progress has been made over the last few years in expanding the physical infrastructure on the campus. Major plans are also in place to continue this developmental thrust over the next several years.

Several new buildings have been completed and others are under construction while a significant few are close to the startup stage. The emphasis at this time is on classrooms, laboratory space, student housing and conference size rooms.

The Expansion of the Humanities Building was completed in 2004. It includes three new and fully equipped classrooms seating 80 each, a writing centre/computer lab, facilities for the Archaeology Department and new Faculty Offices. This three-storey building also includes at ground floor level an undercroft that links the Student Activity Centre to the JFK Quadrangle which contains the JFK cafeteria, lecture theatre and Auditorium and the Main Campus Library. Two of the classrooms are divided by an operable acoustic which when folded allows the area to function as one larger area.

The new School of Education Administrative and Teaching Complex was opened in 2003. The modern three-storey building contains 12 teaching rooms, a 200-seat auditorium, Science, Computer and Multimedia Laboratories, new and expanded Library facilities and administrative offices. The building is also being outfitted with audio-visual, multi-media and video conferencing facilities which will significantly improve the learning experience of students.

The Expansion of the Petroleum Geosciences Facilities in the Faculty of Engineering was completed in 2003. It includes a new Petroleum Geosciences Laboratory, three lecture/tutorial rooms, a computer laboratory and staff offices. The project also included the construction of a 177-seat lecture theatre. This has allowed student enrollment in Engineering and in Petroleum Geosciences in particular to increase in 2004/2005.

The Temporary Classroom block is a single storey building which was constructed during the 2004 summer break to help alleviate the shortage of classroom space. It includes three air-conditioned classrooms seating 120 each. The classrooms also double as exam areas for mid and end of semester examinations.

The new SPEC Facilities which was open in 2001 and which contains indoor and outdoor multi-purpose courts, a modern gym, two classrooms and administrative offices. The indoor facilities are fully air-conditions with modern changing room and bathroom facilities. The gymnasium area has tiered seating for over 1300 spectators and can seat another 1000 of the playing court area. This has enabled the facility to be used for graduations over the last 3 years. Further upgrades to the facility are currently underway, including a new ICC level cricket field and pitch, an IAAF certified running track and upgraded football, rugby and hockey fields.

The First Floor Expansion of the Centre for Language Learning is nearing completion and should be ready for occupation by mid-April 2005. It contains six new classrooms of various sizes, a 157-seat auditorium, a library/multi-media room and staff and administrative offices. This facility will enable the campus to meet the growing demand for the teaching of languages on the campus. A second floor expansion of this facility is also in progress. This area will house the Institute for Critical Thinking and should be completed in the third quarter of 2005.

Works on several other essential buildings are in advance stages and will result in the availability of more facilities by the 2006/2007 academic year. The Student Administration Building commenced construction in December 2004 and will be completed in February 2006. This four level building (including basement) will consolidate all of the student related administrative and support functions in one location and will enable the University to more effectively meet the demands of the growing student body.

A new 450 Lecture Theatre building is scheduled to commence construction by mid 2005. This facility is located just north of the Centre for Language Learning. It will be equipped with the most up to date audio-visual, multi-media and video conferencing facilities and will be a multi-function space which will cater for small theatrical performances. The facility will also include two fully equipped classrooms divided by an operable acoustic partition. This facility will be ready for used by the 2006/2007 academic year.

A construction contract was recently awarded for the construction of a new Dormitory Block at Milner Hall to accommodate 150 students. The four-storey building will include accommodations for 26 postgraduate students and 124 undergraduate students. This building is to be constructed on the site of the current I block. Work is expected to commence by end March 2005 and the facility will be ready for occupation by the 2006/2007 academic year.

The most significant infrastructure project under consideration by the campus is the new Teaching and Learning Complex to be constructed on the vacant lot east of Trinity Hall (currently used for parking). A firm of architects was recently commissioned to start work on this prestigious project. The facility will housed various types of teaching and learning spaces including lecture theatres, auditoriums, lecture/tutorial rooms, specialized science laboratories, study areas, etc. Construction should commence on this facility by late 2005. This facility should enable the St Augustine campus to meet its long-term goals for student enrollment.

Various other projects to upgrade and expand existing buildings on the campus are currently underway or are planned. The changing and growing demands of the campus community dictate a continuous need for improvements and the campus is committed to meeting this demand.