ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University's Southern Campus in Ironton will host a formal dedication ceremony for its new Bill W. Dingus Technology Center at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23.

The two-story, 41,500-square-feet building will house programs in computer science, business management, human resources, accounting, equine studies and travel and tourism. It also will serve as the future home of the school's associate degree program in nursing, which is scheduled to admit its first students next fall and conduct its first courses during fall 2003.

The $6 million facility includes a 75-seat lecture hall, eight multi-purpose classrooms, two art labs, teaching and executive computer labs and office space for staff, faculty and administration. It also features a two-story atrium that connects it to the campus' Academic Center.

Scheduled speakers include retired Ohio University-Southern Dean Bill Dingus, Ohio University President Robert Glidden, Vice President for Regional Higher Education Charles Bird and Ohio University-Southern Dean Dan Evans. The event is open to the public and media members are encouraged to attend.

The building was named in honor of Dingus, who retired in fall 2000 after 24 years as dean. Under his guidance, campus enrollment increased from less than 270 to more than 2,500. He also was instrumental in the opening of Southern's satellite campus in Proctorville, Ohio, as well as the 180-acre, nine-facility Ohio Horse Park in Franklin Furnace, Ohio. The park serves as a state-of-the-art learning facility for the campus' equine studies program.

For more information, contact Ohio University-Southern Assistant Dean for Development Bob Smith at (740) 533-4595 or smithr9@ohio.edu.