MIDWEST CITY – Construction will soon begin on an $18 million student union at Rose State College to consolidate student services under one roof, officials said. 

The development has been needed badly for several years, said Richard Andrews, Rose State's vice president of campus operations. 

"In 2013, we passed a bond program to renovate most of the buildings on campus, specifically the classrooms, to bring them up to date," he said. We spent $21.9 million...and as part of that program we renovated the Learning Resource Center, which anchors the east end of campus. The new student union will anchor the west. 

"Having a one-stop shop is one of the big goals this will accomplish," Andrews said. It is a customer service issue and something that the students asked for. It's something President (Jeanie) Webb had on her radar early on."

Under Oklahoma's 19-year-old Master Lease Program, state regents annually submit to the governor and top legislature officials project plans ranging from stadiums to campus utilities. If the projects are not rejected by concurrent resolution by the House and Senate, they are effectively approved. To pay the work, bonds are sold by the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority. Rose State applied for funds last year and received approval this summer. 

The student union is being built on the site of the former Student Center building, which housed administrative offices, the bookstore, cafeteria and security. The area is being graded now to prepare for construction – rainy weather has slowed up the process. The local office of Beck Design is contracted as the architect. School officials expect the work to be completed by spring 2020, just in time for Rose State's 50th anniversary. 

Andrews said the new building will house student engagement, student enrollment and student advisement services on the floor