As part of a master plan to transform the campus, the Tri-State University Board of Trustees has approved $5.5 million for the sole purpose of improving athletic facilities.

Construction crews have largely cleared Shive Field in order to replace it with a new football stadium complete with artificial turf, locker rooms, restrooms, press boxes, and concessions to accommodate the sports of football, lacrosse, and soccer.

Within the stadium and overlooking the field will be four hotel rooms for the comfort and convenience of visitors. On game day, the spaces will convert to hospitality rooms with a view of the action on the field. The stadium area will also include a new practice football field.

Other construction plans include a new field house with 200-meter indoor track, to connect with Hershey Hall. The field house will benefit TSU student-athletes and help recruit prospective athletes, said men’s track coach Doyle Houser.

“It will greatly improve the workouts that we develop for sprinters and field event people,” he said. “Our distance runners do the bulk of their training outdoors, but they will do speed work indoors on the new track in the winter or during unseasonable weather.”

TSU’s ability to host collegiate and high school meets will be a potent recruiting tool. “Having high school meets will allow athletes to see the TSU facilities and campus firsthand, while giving them a positive athletic experience,” Houser said.

His own team evidences the draw of TSU’s strong academic programs for athletes. “They want to be in academic programs such as engineering, forensic science, or business, in which TSU excels over larger schools,” Houser said. “The TSU cross country team consists of mainly engineering students, and has outstanding athletes.”

“It is an exciting time to be part of Tri-State University,” agreed women’s track coach Wayne Stacy. “The athletes will now have a place to call home. Practices will take place in a central location, and we will be able to structure workouts that will give our athletes the best chance to be successful.”

TSU’s Thunder Sports Park will also receive a facelift, with new parking areas, curbs and sidewalks, restrooms, and concessions.

The expansion and renovation of the campus continues as part of the university’s Vision for the Future capital campaign, which funds the master plan to invest $90 million into campus improvements by June, 2009.