Mary Ellen Jacobs, a former counselor to the ISU football and men¡s basketball teams, is returning to the ISU athletic department.

Her hiring was announced by associate athletics director for sports administration Bill Smith at Tuesday¡s athletic council meeting.

On a part-time basis, Jacobs will serve as a counselor for student athletes and will help ‰at-risk¡ athletes who are struggling with their academics. She will also focus on helping student athletes graduate from Iowa State.

We are very excited to have her back and she will be a great addition to the staff,ΠSmith said.

Jacobs had been retired for two years.

Smith also discussed the possibility of building of a new free-standing student-athlete services building or remodeling an existing building to house the student-athlete services.

An NCAA Committee has toured the current facilities and viewed the program that is in place for the student athletes, Smith said.

The committee included an academic integrity council.

Smith said the committee liked the program and said the services were excellent, but they also recommended Iowa State should try to find a way to improve the facilities that are available for use.

Taking that recommendation into consideration, Iowa State is looking to build a new facility or remodel an existing building.

Plans are still in the beginning stages.

Iowa State is looking into the possible use of three existing spaces: Carver Hall business college, Pearson ADP center and a Friley dining center.

The proposal was sent to the capital projects committee last spring regarding the use of these spaces.

The use of Carver was not approved and use of the other two spaces is still pending.

The department is looking at potential donors to fund the $5 million project. The design, site and entire usage of the building have not yet been determined.

¢ Diana Homan