The new residential college in the arts and humanities already has an acting dean selected and its curriculum approved — but no official name.
University officials said the college won't receive a formal name anytime soon, since it won't open for another 16 months, but they are looking at options.
"It probably is, at this point, just important to give it some time and spend some time thinking about it because once colleges are named, they don't very often get renamed," said June Youatt, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies.
Construction begins May 8 on the residential college, which will be housed in Snyder and Phillips halls. A marketplace-style cafeteria will replace the existing dining hall. Second and third floors, containing offices and classrooms, will be added where the two residence halls connect.
The halls will reopen in fall 2007 to accommodate the residential college's entering class.
The university has at least two options in naming the new college, Provost Kim Wilcox said. Officials could either find a donor to endorse and name the college, or not name it after anyone.
"It has a name — 'The residential college in the arts and humanities,'" Wilcox said. "Having a name that's pretty transparent helps us."
Keeping the name as it is would help people to recognize the college and understand its purpose more clearly, Wilcox said.
He added that he doesn't favor keeping the generic name any more than changing it to something more meaningful.
"There's some symbolism in James Madison as the crafter of democracy for the name of the James Madison College," Wilcox said.
But if the right person or organization comes along, the college might receive a different name, Youatt said.
"If we could do what we would most like to do, we would give a benefactor the opportunity to come forward and to underwrite the college," Youatt said. "Whether or not that person or foundation or group will be identified, I don't know. But we're going to give ourselves time for that to happen."
The university would have to find a donor who has a passion for the college's purpose and the financial capacity to contribute, said Chuck Webb, vice president for University Development.
"We have not yet identified that type of person or determined what that dollar figure would be," Webb said.
If a donor did name the college, the MSU community could give input through the University Naming Committee, which is comprised of students, faculty and administrators, he said.
The committee would review the proposed names and recommend one to Wilcox and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, who would then refer the matter to the MSU Board of Trustees, Webb said.
Any name changes to colleges or buildings require the board's approval, according to MSU policy.
But it probably won't happen until the college is actually open, Youatt and Wilcox said.
"It's a little premature without the college operating to attach a name on it," Wilcox said.
