When the entire world seemingly came to a screeching halt in the midst of an emotionally paralyzing pandemic, we spent the same spring and summer months building a different story – one of brightness, hope, and a positive vision of our collective future at NGU highlighted by the renovation to house NGUCentral and Student Services in Neves Hall.
Every year and at all times, we commit ourselves to a higher standard of excellence by reviewing, renovating, and renewing every aspect of the NGU experience – from academics and student life to our physical property and facilities.
As part of that effort in 2020, our physical renovation projects included updates to Turner Chapel, the Craft-Hemphill Center, Bruce Hall, Trustees and Self Residence Halls, Crusader Court, the NGU Clinic and Counseling Services, various class- rooms, and the outdoor basketball court, among others.
The largest and most significant renovation, however, was the all-new NGUcentral in the historic Neves Hall.
NGUcentral is the main service area for the University’s Student Services Division, which includes Financial Aid, Academic Records, and Student Accounts. The three offices are coordinated through the NGUcentral hub, allowing students to address academic, aid, and billing matters in a one-stop setting instead of crisscrossing campus to visit various offices.
Rachael Russiaky, NGU vice president for student services, worked with architects to develop a format where the three administrative offices could utilize the main floor of Neves Hall to work cohesively in optimizing NGUcentral services. With office and meeting spaces designed to bring the unified services concept to life, the University has taken a major step forward with efficient structure which supports overall student success, strengthening NGU’s mission effectiveness.
From payment plans, to schedule changes, scholarship and loan assistance, and degree audits, we can better help students check-off their to-do lists through en- hanced internal collaboration and improved communication with our students and their families.
In addition to the reorganization of the interior and substantial landscaping upgrades, significant technology upgrades were installed in the three Neves classrooms. The equipment supports 4K LCD displays and multichannel audio. It includes support technology to give instructors an immersive platform that is en- gaging and supportive of student learning outcomes. One classroom and the Wood Conference Room are fitted with the Lifesize suite of video conferencing solutions that allows for flexible meetings, remote instruction, and the recording of sessions that can be packaged for future distribution. The upgrades and the integration with the latest in cloud technologies will set the standard for instructional enablement and excellence for many years to come.
With the creation of NGUcentral, the University is demonstrating professional efficiency in a logical structure. We are showing students and their families that we see them as members of our greater NGU family. Perhaps most importantly, we are showing these future alumni that living out “Christ Makes the Difference” means we strive to operate with excellence.
As Russiaky – who helped merge various departments together into the NGUcen- tral hub – observes, “If you want to maintain a level of excellence, then you never stop improving.”
And that’s been the defining feature of Neves Hall ever since its original construc- tion – to better serve our NGU students and their families with the level of excel- lence modeled for us in Christ.
Currently the second-oldest building on campus (after White Hall), Neves was constructed from 1944 to 1945, when North Greenville’s board voted to construct a “new building for the dining room and kitchen.”
It was officially named “Neves Dining Hall” in memory of long-time benefactor Benjamin F. Neves. The recognition celebrated Mr. Neves’ legacy of support for North Greenville students, dating back to 1891, when he gave 10 acres of land and $500 to help launch our institution. He also assisted with tuition, provided employ- ment opportunities for students, and even relocated his family from a large home to a smaller house to provide additional housing space for students.
From its founding, Neves Hall blended together historic tradition with an innova- tive future. And although it has been remodeled and repurposed several times over the years, it has never lost its central identity as a cherished NGU landmark and constant hub of activity.
Nearly 130 years ago, Mr. Neves committed himself to meet the needs of his com- munity while striving toward a more excellent future. The recent renovation effort links this invaluable part of NGU’s history to the hopeful future we envision today. The work demonstrates our commitment to keeping Neves Hall – and the Neves name itself – an integral part of the NGU campus and story. While the new purpose is different, it is built upon a history of dedicated service and faithful stewardship.
But Neves isn’t the only name that played a crucial role in this story. Dan and Mar- tha Boling, both of whom are NGU alumni (1957) and Alumni of the Year (1989), proudly took up Neves’ mantle of selfless giving to see this project come to fruition.
“Dan and Martha, once again, you have supported your Alma Mater in a way that creates opportunities for our students to excel,” President Gene C. Fant, Jr., said at the Neves Hall dedication in September. “You have faithfully strengthened our mission throughout your lives, by supporting construction projects, investing in our alumni association’s programs, and by providing home-cooked meals and
March 16, 2020
University opens the NGU Clinic staffed by a licensed Nurse Practitioner with part-time hours. Chapel canceled, and no gatherings of more than 100 people. All off-campus, University-related trips canceled until further notice.
March 19, 2020
Tigerville and Greer Campuses closed, and staff began working remotely through March 31.
March 21, 2020
University Contingency Operations Plan was initiated and available on the University’s website.
March 23, 2020
Online instruction began. Residential housing remained open. Students who wished to move home were permitted to do so.
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