By David Lavrinovich, Writer, Interviews by Amelia Williams, Staff Writer
Many returning students have been surprised by certain changes happening to one of the most beloved study and hangout spots on the Hardin Valley campus of Pellissippi State Community College, the library. Even new students may be confused as to what exactly is going on within the building. Imaginary Gardens has had the exclusive opportunity to interview Phylicia Washington, the Coordinator of the Academic Tutoring Center, as well as Zoe Bastone, Reference Coordinator and Instruction Librarian, to find out what exciting new developments can be expected.
Meet the Educational Resources Center
While colloquially known as the library, the building itself is known as the Educational Resources Center (ERC). The library is just one small but significant part of the importance this area holds for Pellissippi State. The ERC also houses the tutoring center, the testing center, study rooms, and a spot to rent out laptops and other equipment – it’s no surprise that, because of how much activity is housed within one building, some restructuring was in order.
Over this past year, plans have been made to improve the ERC going forward, with renovations estimated to last until the Summer of 2026 or 2027. However, that timeline is subject to change, especially given that the project aims to work during academic breaks in order to easily manage many moving parts and not be disruptive to students.
Pellissippi State’s Uplift: Bigger and Better
If you happened to find yourself on the ERC’s first floor, you have definitely noticed the pop-up cubicles. These are temporary faculty spaces that tie in with renovations happening in other buildings on campus. As Washington put it, “Pellissippi is getting an uplift,” which perfectly describes all the renovation and improvement happening across our beloved campus. The ERC, in particular, is arguably facing the most changes, with all three floors being revamped to have new carpet and furniture installed. However, two other major changes include certain departments moving into the ERC as well as expansions of services to students.
Much of the faculty from Goins is taking their spaces in the ERC, like the Stay Strong Success Center and Career Development. Stay Strong focuses on guiding students, especially first-generation college students, in navigating the transition to college with orientations, coaching, and more. Meanwhile, Career Development supports students in the journey post-college, or even connects students with internships and jobs while they’re in school. Not to mention that Veteran Services and the Multicultural Center will also be located in the ERC. In essence, the ERC is going to become a centralized hub for students to be able to get help in many different areas.
As for other services provided to students, the renovations will bring a lot of what students have been needing. There will be more study rooms, a very popular attraction of the ERC, as well as general space. “There’s a lot more investment in student-centered space,” Bastone said when asked about the direction the ERC is taking in its update. Students can also look forward to a brand new digital media lab on the first floor and four more labs throughout the building. These other labs’ purposes have not yet been determined, but may be dedicated spaces for writing, computers, science, or even something else. The changes coming to the ERC will also give more space to existing services such as the testing center and tutoring center. All in all, students can expect a lot of great things from these renovations!
The Benefits and Why These Renovations are Necessary
Returning students may be disheartened by these renovations because of their infringements on the familiarity of the building; however, the brief struggle is worth it. The changes happening to the ERC truly benefit all students across Pellissippi State; the process may be a bit annoying as everyone adjusts, but the results are something to look forward to. Students from Strawberry Plains, Magnolia, and Blount especially benefit, as they may notice that those campuses are more compact compared to Hardin Valley. Thus, having a dedicated space at Hardin Valley for students to linger is exciting, especially when the ERC is going to function as a one-stop shop to service most, if not all, of a student’s needs. The restructuring is also beneficial to faculty, as the proximity facilitates better collaboration and communication between different departments, which is further good news for students.
All of this to say, students have much to get excited about with the ERC. Even if change is uncomfortable, these renovations are truly for the better. The ERC is an amazing asset for students to utilize and is only going to improve. Moreover, it’s still open for students to stop by and visit. Take a peek inside to see what’s changing, get help from faculty, or simply check out all the useful services provided. The Educational Resource Center would love to have you!
