Shepherd University will sponsor a series of public meetings in January to seek input from the community, faculty, staff and students on the development of the university’s master plan.

The master plan team and the architects advising the group will hear comments on Wednesday, Jan. 9 during three sessions scheduled for 12:151:45 p.m., 2:153:45 p.m. and 68 p.m. and on Thursday, Jan. 10, 9:3011 a.m. All sessions will be held in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies auditorium. Attendees do not have to stay for the entire session and may come and go as schedules permit.

All West Virginia public institutions are required to develop a master plan on a 10-year cycle. Shepherd’s updated master plan will be presented to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) no later than June 30, 2013.

To support the development of the master plan, the University created a facility master plan team, made up of faculty, students, staff and community representatives and assisted by an architectural firm. The team is being led by John Sherwood, former chair of the Shepherd University Board of Governors. The team and the architects want an opportunity to hear from all Shepherd constituents about their vision for the future physical structure of the campus.