RUSSELLVILLE — Ferguson Student Union is not just a building for Arkansas Tech University students.
It is a building that was planned by Arkansas Tech students and will be operated on a day-to-day basis by university students, according to student leaders.
The two most recent ATU Student Government Association presidents — Carson Smith of Russellville and Elli White of Malvern — spoke about that aspect of the facility and why student input in the design process was important during the Ferguson Student Union dedication ceremony held on the Russellville campus Wednesday, according to a news release from the university.
Smith expressed appreciation to the donors who made private gifts in support of the construction of Ferguson Student Union and the university administrators who oversaw the design and construction process, the release states. Drew Dickey, director of facilities management; Chelsea Neal, associate dean for campus life and director of Ferguson Student Union; Kevin Solomon, assistant vice president for campus life; and Amy Pennington, vice president for student affairs, were among the university staff members Smith mentioned as being integral in the process.
“Your belief in this institution and your willingness to invest in its future have created something that will serve students for years to come,” Smith said. “Your support has helped turn an idea into a reality, and for that, we are deeply thankful.
The grand opening and dedication event held Wednesday was the culmination of a process that began in 2014. The 69,990-square-foot facility will be the focal point of campus life at Arkansas Tech for generations to come, according to a news release from the university.
“Ferguson Student Union is a place where Arkansas Tech students will grow into the best version of themselves,” said Stephanie Duffield of Russellville, ATU alumna and chair of the university’s Board of Trustees. “As a result of this increase in connectedness, Arkansas Tech students will feel a greater sense of affection for and loyalty to their alma mater far beyond graduation day.
“Ferguson Student Union is a transformative building for Arkansas Tech. I look forward to everything that our professional staff in student affairs and our student leadership will do to maximize this exciting new resource,” Duffield said.
The Student Union offers student meeting and lounge spaces, fast casual dining, an esports gaming lab, basketball courts, a location to check out outdoor recreation gear, and workout areas for cardiovascular and strength fitness training, the release states.
The new student union named for Cindi and Jimmy Ferguson, who made the lead gift in support of the construction of the facility. Jimmy Ferguson served on the student affairs staff at Arkansas Tech from 1975-94 before he and his wife went on to success as McDonald’s franchise owners and operators in central Texas.
“This was my home for 19 years,” Jimmy Ferguson said. “As a staff member here, I grew as an individual. My beliefs, my trade and my role within society were born here at Arkansas Tech University. So many of the students who were here at that time are back today, and the success they have had in their lives and in their communities is what we are all about.
White, who has since graduated from Arkansas Tech and was recently hired as ATU coordinator of student involvement, reflected on how she and her peers were engaged in planning Ferguson Student Union during the 2023-24 academic year.
“This building serves as a final puzzle piece that completes the greater picture of ATU, and that piece fits due to the collaboration between our administration and the student body,” White said. “Because of the hard work that students put in serving on committees, gathering feedback and crafting a vision, this building will serve as the beating heart of our campus community. I am grateful that students were heavily involved in this project before the concrete was poured, ensuring that this building can be a functional and vital part of campus life.
One of the most significant steps in the development of Ferguson Student Union occurred when university’s SGA voted during the 2018-19 academic year in support of a new student union and recreation fee. That fee was subsequently approved by the ATU Board of Trustees in May 2019. Smith reported during the Ferguson Student Union dedication ceremony that the fee generates approximately $3 million per year in support of the facility, the release states.
“Those numbers reflect more than funding,” Smith said. “They reflect a real commitment to honoring student priorities, and I am thankful for those who helped ensure those resources were used in a way that reflected the needs and vision of our students.
