In 2018, Davis & Elkins College completed a comprehensive campaign and “Secured the Future” of the College. Gifts to this campaign primarily supported the endowment, eliminated all debts of the College, and provided funding for deferred maintenance of our academic buildings and grounds. The campaign truly changed the future of Davis & Elkins College.
The Board of Trustees approved a Campus Master Plan in 2019 to guide our growth and so began a new era for this beloved institution. The first phase of the Campus Master Plan was completed in 2020 with the extensive renovation of Myles Center for the Arts.
Having “Secured the Future,” our task is now to “Create a Home” for the next generation of D&E Senators. With vision and enthusiasm, the Board of Trustees once again steps forward in its leadership and approves embarking on a $25 million capital campaign Creating Home: It Takes a Village which will construct a Freshman Village for Davis & Elkins College. Not only is this project the next phase of the Campus Master Plan, but it is also essential for D&E to continue moving forward, remain financially sound, and attract students to our beautiful “home among the hills.” As colleges and universities across the country experience enrollment challenges for multiple reasons, it is imperative that we do all we can to make Davis & Elkins College attractive to current and future students, so we continue Leading the Way.
Included in this special edition of Fast Forward are the words of students, alumni, and staff on the importance of this crucial project. They eloquently express the urgency of addressing the need for upgraded student residence facilities.
The lead gifts that have already been secured for this campaign have resulted in nearly 70% of the total goal either donated or pledged.
In this publication is a chart outlining the campaign goal and these early and very generous gift commitments. Our task is now to raise the last 30% of this goal to make the new Freshmen Village a reality. Groundbreaking on the new residence facility is scheduled for spring or summer 2023. In the coming weeks, we will be announcing more about campaign leaders who will head this effort. There will be specific opportunities for our alumni and regional alumni groups to engage in supporting the campaign. We will also share stories from our students who are excited about what the new village concept will mean.
I invite you to begin considering how YOU will participate when called upon. We want each and every alumnus, parent, and friend to find your place in this campaign. It truly does ‘take a village’ as we work together to help Davis & Elkins College remain the blessed place we all love and cherish.
Yours sincerely, Chris A. Wood President
THE MAGAZINE OF
Editor: Linda Howell Skidmore Writers: Linda Howell Skidmore, Cathy Nosel Architectural Renderings: The Mills Group
The Mission of Davis & Elkins College To prepare and inspire students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world.
Davis & Elkins College, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the West Virginia Human Rights Act. For a full description, visit https://www.dewv.edu/consumer-information. For a printed version, please contact Amy Kittle, Title IX Coordinator, Liberal Arts Hall 209, Office: 304-637-1244; Cell: 304-621-1316, kittleamy@dewv.edu. ©2022 Davis & Elkins College
When it comes to attracting new students, residence halls and amenities are a major selling point. That’s why we’re building for the future by creating the first-year student Freshman Village – a fully renovated Gribble Hall and Roxanna Booth Hall, and a new residence hall adjacent to both. The Freshman Village will be far more than a place to sleep and store belongings. It is specifically designed with spaces to offer dynamic programming that demonstrates the value of living on campus. After all, college students spend 80% of their time outside the classroom.
“The new freshman village will provide an atmosphere for individual and academic growth through engagement and service, essentially creating a hub of activity,” said D&E Dean of Students Kate Garlick. “The addition of the new residence hall will offer students more significant opportunities to connect and build community. Through the modernization of our residence halls, we will better meet the needs of today’s students and improve their experience in residence life. It is exciting to envision a new village for our first-year students to continue to build a vibrant living and learning community at D&E.”
Today’s students require living spaces that inspire big ideas, foster a vibrant community, and strengthen the family spirit on campus. The new three-and-a half-story, 100-bed suite-style residence hall will feature
• common kitchen
• multi-purpose room
• collaborative study spaces
• gathering space
• laundry and vending amenities
• elevator
Renovation will include upgrades to HVAC, electrical and wireless technology, new windows, doors, furniture, fixtures and finishes throughout the buildings. The project will address codes for accessibility, bathroom fixtures and fire protection.
The construction of a gazebo and development of the patio outside of Gribble Lounge will provide additional gathering spots and help tie the village together physically and aesthetically.
Planning is underway to provide new
will be addressed in Phase III.
When Davis & Elkins College alumni take a trip down memory lane and visit the residence halls where they lived as students, they find the facilities are still much the same. While some may feel pangs of nostalgia, others along with our prospective students are seeing a major need to evolve with the times.
It’s been more than five decades since a new residence hall was opened at D&E and although renovations were made to some of the living facilities, there’s still a long way to go to meet the needs of today’s students. In the mix is the ever-growing use of technology that gives us an urgency to adapt our campus housing for the future.
“We have remained vital in a challenging environment with our classes and programs. Now is the time for a transformational opportunity for our student housing environment,” said D&E Executive Vice President Dr. Rosemary Thomas.
“I want people to be proud of where they live, for it to be a place that’s comfortable and boosts their confidence. We always strive to be as close to perfect as possible, but the major thing that cannot let us do that is the dorms.” – Hussain Hamide, Student Ambassador and Student-Athlete
“I love it here and I enjoy giving tours, but the residence halls present the greatest challenge when giving tours to prospective students. It’s disappointing to see someone who was so interested in coming here and seeing the dorms flip their mindset. I wanted my best friend to come here, but she refused because of the dorms.
“There’s no personal space – you can hear people’s phone conversations through the walls, so everyone knows if someone is having a personal problem. The rooms are hard to organize because the shelves are bolted to the walls.”
– Brooklyn Maxwell, Student Ambassador and Student-Athlete
“Obviously in 2022 and a very changed world, a 1970’s style living area is not going to be what students need and want today,” said alumnus and Trustee Reginald “Reggie” Owens Sr ’83. “We need to be able to differentiate our College from the competition to recruit and retain today’s best and brightest.”
If we asked students for their opinion on any topic, the responses would be as diverse as the campus population. However, one thing students agree on is the poor conditions of the residence halls. Their concerns range from aesthetics to safety and accessibility to the importance of being competitive among peer institutions. Roommates Kylianne Philip and Brianna Portley have lived in three residence halls. They say each one has its advantages – Roxanna Booth Hall for its central location, Moyer Hall for increased storage space, and Presidential for its suite-style layout. Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages. When residing in Presidential Hall they appreciate many conveniences such as air conditioning and fewer stairs but that is countered by considerably less living space. Portley moved a dresser from the inside of her closet to a common area to allow room to hang her clothes. With all the electrical items we all use in today’s world (computers, cell phones, refrigerators, televisions, etc.), multiple extension cords must be used to increase power capabilities. That can cause safety issues, but there aren’t any alternatives. Suitcases and large storage units are kept under beds or sent home until the end of the year. Both students agree that residence halls offering a more comfortable living area with adequate power outlets and enough space for all furniture would be amazing.
1970 - Moyer Hall (formerly International)
1969 - Presidential Center
1966 - Roxanna Booth Hall
1962 - Darby Hall
1958 - Gribble Hall
