USU to Construct New Building for Language Programs

The Utah State Legislature recently approved the construction of a new home for Utah State University’s foreign language programs. The $17-million Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center will house all of the university’s language-based programs under one roof.

The Legislature approved $14.5 million in state funds for construction of the new facility. An additional $2.5 million will come from private donors, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Legislature had already approved the project in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic effected budget cuts.

Though all the university’s foreign language classes fall under the umbrella of the Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Communications Studies, they’re spread across four different buildings. “The Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center will bring together in one location all language-focused programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences,” said Joseph P. Ward, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Ward estimates that about 2,200 students enroll in lower-division foreign language classes each year. Amenities in the new building will include conversation, teaching, and computer writing labs; and centralized spaces for student advising, studying, and tutoring. It will also contain the university’s Intensive English Language Institute.

The new facility is named after USU alumnus Mehdi Heravi, an Iranian-born teacher, scholar, philanthropist, and author. Heravi has established multiple scholarships at the university.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Case Study Highlights Texas District’s Campus Security Upgrades

    The Taft Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently partnered with Intech Southwest Services to revamp its campus security technology system, according to a news release. Intech has released a case study on its website detailing the process that advanced the district’s technology by more than 20 years in less than three weeks.

  • Tufts University Breaks Ground on Two New Residence Halls

    Tufts University in Medford, Mass., recently broke ground on two new residence halls with a total capacity of 664 beds, according to local news. The project’s ultimate goal is to expand on-campus housing and reduce pressure on the local housing market.

  • UC Riverside Completes $285M, Multi-School Student Housing Development

    The University of California, Riverside, recently announced the completion of a $285-million student housing complex offering 1,568 beds across 429 units, according to a news release.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

Digital Edition