In line with the university’s commitment to a 70 percent graduation rate, the Board of Regents authorized Iowa State’s plans for the creation of a student success center.

The Board of Regents OK’d the university’s plans to move forward with the building at its August meeting.

The project would construct a new facility to house academic student service programs to improve the awareness, visibility and accessibility of the programs and respond to existing space deficiencies that limit the program’s services in their locations in the Student Services Building.

“It’s an opportunity to expand academic support services for students,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill. “There’s a demand and need for those services.”

Hill said the facility is needed because the services provided in the Student Services Building are not adequate for the entire student population.

“We can service more students better by having an additional facility,” Hill said. “This facility will allow the university to increase the capacity of students it serves through academic support and creates a more targeted focus.”

There are currently 200 tutors providing assistance in the Student Services Building.

A university memorandum submitted to the regents stated that the Student Service’s Hixson Opportunity Awards Program, which gives services that lead to increased student retention and graduation rates for Hixson scholars, suffers from serious space constraints, which prohibit the expansion of its services.

The university’s student support services, including disability resources, academic counseling, tutoring and supplemental instruction programs, are also in need of additional space to better respond to student needs, according to the memorandum.

In addition, the Athletic Center for Educational Services, which serves the university’s student-athletes, lacks sufficient facilities to adequately accommodate students, according to officials from Student Services.

“This helps us get closer to helping everyone be successful at this institution,” Hill said. “It helps us move toward a 70 percent graduation rate set by [ISU] President [Gregory] Geoffroy.”

Hill said no construction plan has been formulated, nor has a construction date been set, but building should be completed in a couple of years.

The student success center will cost an estimated $10 million, and the project will be funded entirely by private funds and donations, according to regent documents.

Operating costs would be paid from athletic department revenues, and may also come from a building operating endowment or general funds.

Plans for the construction of a new Alumni Center were also approved.

Construction is planned to take place along Beach Avenue and Center Drive, near the Iowa State Center and Stephens Auditorium.

Due to the planned renovation of the Memorial Union, the office currently operates out of Fisher-Nickell Hall, which is an area that lacks the visibility and space needed for the organization, according to the university memorandum.

Construction is estimated to cost $9 million and be funded through private gifts. Operating costs would be paid from the Alumni Association operating budget and operations endowment. No construction date has been set.