U of M Acquires Former Hospital Building at Naval Support Facility at Millington
For release: Dec. 17, 2002
For press information, contact Curt Guenther

The University of Memphis is the new owner of the former hospital at the Naval Support Activity Mid-South. Transfer of the six-story hospital and several smaller adjacent buildings, totaling 250,000 square feet on 38 acres of land, was made official by U.S. Rep. John Tanner, who represents the Millington area in Congress.

Tanner was instrumental in getting the U.S. Dept. of Education to transfer ownership of the property to The U of M for furtherance of its educational mission.

Accepting the property on behalf of the University was Dr. Shirley Raines, president of The U of M. Representing the state was Dr. Charles Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, which is the state oversight body for The University of Memphis and 44 other colleges, universities and technology centers throughout the state. Also participating in the property transfer ceremony was Dennis Dorsey, who represented the U.S. General Services Administration.

The University will use the facilities for higher education programs and related activities. Examples of such usage include continuing education and other classes offered away from the University's main campus in Memphis, office space for University-related operations, and research labs.

The Millington site will allow The U of M to address a growing nationwide trend of the migration of people from central cities to outlying areas. With that change in demographics, universities are finding it necessary to offer their programs at sites away from their main campuses. The University of Memphis has offered off-site programs for several years; acquisition of this property will be a boost to that program, not just to Millington, but to all of West Tennessee.

University officials expect the Millington site to be particularly useful in working with the U.S. Navy, which requires its mid-level and upper-level officers to hold master's degrees. The new facility, adjacent to the Naval Support Activity Mid-South, in conjunction with the Board of Regents' new online degree program, is expected to fit in well with that requirement.

The University estimates that it will take about three years to reconfigure the building for educational use. Most of that work will be done on the first floor. After that, renovation of the remainder of the building will be undertaken as demand dictates.

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