BOG approves URI School of Communications, looks to rename Independence Hall

1/29/08 - The University of Rhode Island may soon see some major changes in the upcoming years after the approval of two proposals by the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, at Rhode Island College last night. The most important of those changes feature a proposed name change for Independence Hall. One of the largest academic buildings on campus may soon be named Swan Hall, after former Provost Beverly Swan. The second passed proposal will make Ranger Hall the house of a School of Communication at URI, which will encompass departments from communications to film media.

President Robert L. Carothers had requested approval of a "naming opportunity" on the agenda of last night's meeting. The "naming opportunity," which turned out to be Swan Hall, had been discussed in a closed executive session of the RIBGHE Dec. 3.

"It has to go through a process," Carothers said. "It has to now be approved by the legislature."

Carothers hopes that approval from the Rhode Island legislature comes soon. He wants to rededicate the building as Swan Hall in time for this year's commencement.

Further down the road, and a few buildings away from the future Swan Hall, Ranger Hall will host the URI School of Communication.

"It's a chance to build a real school of distinction," Carothers said.

The school will encompass the College Writing Program, Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, Department of Journalism, Department of Communication and the program in Film Media.

BOG Chairman Jack R. Warner wrote in a memorandum about the proposed school, "Academically the establishment of the school will lead to better communication and collaboration between and amongst faculty. The school will also allow the university to respond more effectively to the promotion and initiation of new programs."

Carothers agreed with Warner's memo after the meeting, saying "It's going to help us begin to put this program on the map."

Carothers alluded to a donor "waiting in the wings" for the School of Communications after it is established. This would be necessary, as the proposed school would increase the enrollment of URI by an estimated 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, said Warner in the memorandum.

Warner also addressed these prospective donors in the memorandum, saying "URI also was encouraged by some of its nationally prominent and successful alumni to establish a school of communication if it seeks to be in the forefront of this exciting and internationally recognized field."

According to that same memorandum, the school will be led by a director. The director will be paid by a specific grant for that purpose.

There was other business addressed throughout the night at the BOG meeting. One included the naming of the roads at URI's W. Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich, R.I. The roads had never been named before and this caused a safety problem, because 9-1-1 requires an address to respond to an emergency. The roads will be named after the donor of the land and several important Alton Jones supporters.

The Board of Governors also approved the use of $9.6 million for the creation of a connecting road between Flagg Road and Plains Road, as well as parking lot and road maintenance and repair. The board also approved $40 million for the Terrace Apartment site, which will be cleared to create a 300 bed dormitory.