The gift is part of continued renovation to the building that includes classroom, simulation lab and student lounge upgrades that make the School of Nursing a competitive destination for students.

The School of Nursing provides students with a nursing education experience while attracting and retaining top nursing faculty to guide students through today’s health care challenges. Great cities have great medical complexes, and this project will be a catalyst for the school to create healthier communities.

“We are so thankful to the Gheens Foundation for their investment in our students, programs and facilities,” said UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Donors like the Gheens Foundation make it possible for the University of Louisville to better prepare our students for promising futures.”

Ellen Tinker, a third-year nursing student has experienced first-hand the impact of donors like the Gheens Foundation.

“We will be learning, laughing and crying in these spaces,” said Tinker. “As a Cardinal Nurse, I am very grateful for the gifts they contribute to the nest that we have here in the School of Nursing. One of the most important parts of nursing school is the togetherness and collaboration we all get to feel in these newly renovated spaces.”

After donating $2 million to the university’s strategic plan in 2019, the Gheens Foundation has proven to be an important part of the university and students’ success. The donation was used for many campus improvements, including campus safety and security, employee onboarding, and tools for student recruitment and retention.

Established in 1957 by philanthropists and entrepreneurs C. Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, the Gheens Foundation has provided more than $130 million in grants to improve the quality of life for the residents of Metropolitan Louisville, particularly in the areas of education and human services.

“The very existence of The Gheens Foundation is a testament to the legacy of love and generosity of its founders, Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, for the citizens and the institutions of this community,” said Barry G. Allen, president and treasurer of the Gheens Foundation. “I am confident they would be most pleased with the trustees’ decision to make this grant for the benefit of the vital mission of the School of Nursing, especially given the urgency and necessity to attract, recruit and educate the next generations of nurses.”

The latest donation from the Gheens Foundation adds to the $2.5 million already invested by various donors toward the School of Nursing improvement project.

With enrollment at UofL predicted to grow in the coming years, Libraries leadership seeks to utilize current available space to provide a high-quality library experience. Raising the seat-to-student ratio helps UofL’s competitive edge in recruiting new students and retaining current ones.

Planned for several years, the $3M project is primarily funded by gifts and endowments, as well as a $500,000 grant from UofL administration as part of its student initiatives program. It is heartily endorsed by the Student Government Association. In planning the renovation, the Libraries also worked with its Libraries Student Advisory Board and conducted a comprehensive survey last year that revealed the need for more high-quality study spaces.

A large component of the renovation is a proposed Jewish Studies Reading Room in space formerly occupied by the Writing Center. Currently, Libraries Development Director Matt Wyatt is working with the UofL Jewish Studies program and the local to raise necessary funds for this project, which will serve to inspire current and future Jewish scholars and recognize this important constituency on campus.

During construction, access to the third floor will be limited; the Delphi Center’s Teaching Innovation Learning Lab (TILL) will remain open, and students will be welcome on any other floor. The bulk of the project will take place May through September and wrap up soon after. The third floor will remain a quiet floor after construction.

Libraries personnel have been working diligently over the past year to relocate books and clear the way for the renovation. As of February 22, numerous books have been moved to either the 4^th floor of Ekstrom (175k), the Robotic Retrieval System (RRS) (22k), or high-density storage (16k). This process is ongoing and will continue as books continue their migration. Because of the time and care involved in curating, documenting and filing information, some materials will be inaccessible for a period of time, roughly between six months to two years. The urgent need for renovations prompted an acceleration of the collections migration, and curation will continue as quickly as possible over the foreseeable future to return most books back into circulation.

As this process takes place, the Libraries will practice intelligent stewardship, to make sure all materials are useful and necessary for the important work of undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and other researchers. As in every academic and public library, some materials in the collections, like duplicate titles, or others that have not been used or checked out in the entire time they’ve been housed in the stacks, are subject to weeding. Ekstrom librarians have led a meticulous process of curation to ensure the library retains all appropriate materials of high quality.

Materials undergoing migration comprise hardcover books prior to 2000 from Library of Congress A-N. All LOC A-N books published after 2000 will remain on the floor, located in the southwest quadrant, and fully accessible to students and researchers.

Patrons who wish to borrow materials that have been moved may use the  system to access them from other libraries. Typically, article requests can be fulfilled within 36 hours and book/loan requests within a week-10 working days. T

To provide information to the University community and the public, the Libraries have created  about the project.

With a fully renovated third floor as the ultimate goal, space is currently being cleared for construction of the Delphi Center’s new Teaching Innovative Learning Lab (TILL), which is set to open by the fall semester. 

Currently in the final design phases, the TILL will provide space and equipment for faculty to learn and experiment with innovative teaching methods. The new laboratory, which is part of the University’s 21^st Century Initiatives and supported by Interim University Provost Neville Pinto, will provide a large learning lab, collaborative spaces, conference rooms and offices for Delphi Center staff. Construction will proceed throughout the rest of the summer to prevent major disruption for students.

Some logistical changes will confront visitors in the near-term: several large study tables frequented by large groups have been moved to the second floor, where recently upgraded lighting will better serve group study.

Reference materials formerly shelved in the northeast have either been relocated to the Robotic Retrieval System (RRS), or replaced by expanded online databases available via the Libraries website. For example, databases such as , a digital repository of academic journals, books, and primary sources, has been expanded to offer access to new materials.

For the relocated physical reference books and other materials, Ekstrom plans to build a new arm within the RRS. Libraries Dean Bob Fox worked closely with the Provost and the Delphi Center to move this key library priority forward.

Remaining renovations to the third floor, including new study areas, furniture and other enhancements, are part of later phases of the project.

Follett’s network includes more than 1,250 campus stores, including locations at Bellarmine, Spalding, Transylvania and Kentucky State universities, as well as Centre and Georgetown colleges in Kentucky. It also includes more than 1,600 virtual stores and relationships with more than 6,000 publishers nationwide.

A campus-wide committee of students, faculty and staff selected Follett from several companies as part of a competitive bid process. Follett officials said the UofL community should expect fresh collections of books and other educational supplies, clothing, gifts and convenience items when the stores open this summer.

The Follett agreement includes:

• Renovation and relocation of the Belknap Campus bookstore in the Swain Student Activities Center, including an outdoor patio and landscaping, by spring 2017
• Textbook scholarships
• Books and supplies to UofL’s Signature Partnership schools
• Continued discounts on books and merchandise for faculty and staff
• A rental program with discounts up to 80 percent off the cost of buying new books

“We are excited about our new partnership with Follett,” said Harlan Sands, UofL senior vice president for finance and administration. “It will transform our campus bookstore experience. Students, faculty, and staff can expect a brand new, state-of-the-art bookstore with expanded services and product lines.”