Construction on a third floor project in of Umberger Hall should to be complete for the start of the 2015 fall semester.
“We want to bring all of the academic program functions to one collaborative area,” say Gina Nixon, business manager for the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education and project coordinator for the construction.
The completed project will move all faculty, staff, and student labs to the third floor. The space previously occupied by publishing is being transformed into several collaborative learning spaces for students and faculty.
“The space will be welcoming for students to use, and a place they are comfortable in,” says Nixon. 
Project funds will come from a variety of sources, including private donations and the recently implemented College of Agriculture student course fee. A committee of undergraduate and graduate students, along with faculty members, decided to use student fees to purchase technology and furniture for the collaborative learning spaces.
“Our ultimate goal with this projects is to allow agricultural education and agricultural communication and journalism students in intermingle in a collaborative space to bring the two programs closer together,” says Nixon. 
Renovating 317 into graduate student offices will be the next project.
The department has been working closely with Kansas State University Foundation Center to identify donors to assist with the third floor collaborative learning space project. Donors are still needed, and naming rights are available.
Any interested donors should contact Emilie Fink in KSU Foundation Center at emiliem@k-state.edu.
