Arkansas Tech University has facilities on its Russellville campus. The surrounding community has a need for meeting, conference and event spaces.
Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president, has a plan to make the institution’s resources more readily available to citizens of the Arkansas River Valley beginning during the 2025-26 academic year.
“We want people on our campus at Arkansas Tech,” said Jones. “As a public institution, we have a responsibility to be more than a good neighbor. We should be a resource for the people of this region. We are reaching out to local businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals to let them know they are welcome on our campus and we are prepared to accommodate their needs for a wide variety of events.”
As part of the renewed emphasis on facility access, the Office of University Events at Arkansas Tech has been established in the ATU Division of Advancement. The office will be led by Caroline Kitchens, whose new title at Arkansas Tech is executive director of alumni relations and university events.
Kitchens will be assisted by Rachel Broussard, who has worked on events management and space reservations at Arkansas Tech since 2018.
The Office of University Events at Arkansas Tech will be responsible for accepting reservations from off-campus and on-campus individuals who wish to utilize ATU facilities such as the Hull Building Student Union (which will be renamed the Hull Building Event Center once Ferguson Student Union opens in early 2026), Tucker Coliseum, Witherspoon Auditorium, Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall and a wide variety of other meeting spaces that can serve events ranging from a small group to 300 guests.
A rate sheet will be made available to off-campus entities that wish to rent ATU facilities for their meetings, conferences and events. Revenue from the rentals will support the operational costs of the venues and ongoing improvements to those spaces. There will continue to be no charge for on-campus departments and organizations that wish to reserve spaces.
“Arkansas Tech faculty, staff and students will continue to be the priority for all of these spaces,” said Jones. “However, there are several periods of time during evenings, weekends and between semesters when we have the capacity to host external groups on campus. Our capacity will only increase when Ferguson Student Union opens in early 2026. In addition to its primary function as a gathering place for Arkansas Tech students, Ferguson Student Union can become a summertime destination for meetings and youth camps. Doing so would have multiple benefits, not the least of which would be providing summer employment opportunities for Ferguson Student Union student workers who wish to enroll in summer classes.”
Individuals who wish to inquire about renting meeting, conference or event space on the Arkansas Tech campus may send e-mail to events@atu.edu or call (479) 964-0583 (extension 2505).
Beyond space reservations, Jones said he wishes to create other opportunities for the public to visit and enjoy the Arkansas Tech campus.
“Arkansas Tech is currently a great source of entertainment for the Arkansas River Valley with our NCAA intercollegiate athletics program, our nationally-renowned music program, our theatrical productions and our visual arts exhibitions at Norman Hall,” said Jones. “Many will remember there was a time when Tucker Coliseum was one of the premier concert and entertainment venues in this region. I want to explore the possibility of making that true once again. The response we received from hosting the Harlem Globetrotters earlier this year demonstrates there is a desire among our local citizens to have more entertainment options and big events here in our community. We will be communicating with the promoters and organizers of such events in the near future with a goal of maximizing the opportunities provided by Tucker Coliseum.”
