Tuskegee University Takes Action for Construction Delays

Tuskegee University Takes Action for Construction Delays

August 26, 2024

Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

Tuskegee University staff and students were forced to pivot after construction delays required the university to house students in hotels in Auburn instead of two on-campus residence halls that had been under renovation since February.

Because accountability matters, the administration has formally notified the construction firm of its failure to meet substantial completion deadlines, severed ties with a Montgomery group that served as a liaison on the project and reprimanded senior employees responsible for the project.

More than 900 new students chose Tuskegee this fall. We are doing our best to bridge the gap for those who were displaced as a result of the renovation delays to Olivia Davidson Hall and Lewis Adams Hall.

We are keenly aware that this unfortunate development has cost parents and students' money, time and their initial Tuskegee Experience. For these sacrifices, we have apologized in person and in writing. Our apologies, though sincere, must be accompanied by visual and tangible reminders of our commitment to ensuring a memorable and productive semester.

The University is providing those students with a one-time $2,000 construction delay allowance. We are introducing Tuskegee-operated shuttles and have contracted with a third-party to transport students to and from the University seven days each week to make sure that they are immersed within the rich campus culture. The Division of Student Affairs, specifically, the Department of Housing and Residence Life, is planning, for the first time, a January edition of the "Golden Tiger Move-In Experience" that will mimic the New Student Orientation (NSO) activities during Move-In week.

These are steps that we are taking to demonstrate that all students deserve a sense of belonging as members of the Tuskegee University family in the same way as their peers who are residing within The Lincoln Gates.

Student safety remains our top priority. Full-time Tuskegee University employees have been assigned to live at each hotel. These liaisons will provide guidance and on-the-ground support to each student. Tuskegee University Police Department will provide 24-hour security at each location to provide additional peace-of-mind to our students and parents.

They are as much a part of this community as those students living on campus and we will work to ensure they feel that way.

This experience is certainly not as we intended to welcome our students, especially because my focus is to implement a "Student First" policy. But just as I've held responsible officials accountable, I will also take responsibility and commit to students and parents of Tuskegee University that we will overcommunicate, find creative solutions for student engagement and respond to questions and concerns when raised to us by stakeholders.

I can assure each of you that we will emerge from this challenge with renewed vigor and purpose.

Most sincerely,

Mark A. Brown
President and CEO
Tuskegee University

© 2024 Tuskegee University

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