ASU-Newport building $4 million community/student center.

Arkansas State University-Newport expects to break ground in January on a $4 million community/ student center.

The 35,000-SF building will be a "one-stop shop" for students, said Chancellor Larry Williams. It will house admissions, records, student advisement, financial aid, the book store and food services. It will also have a TV room and a room for a community events.

Currently the services are spread out across the campus.

Williams said the school made the move to "increase the efficiency of services that are provided to students."

The center should help attract more students to the two-year college and "allow us to ... serve our local county much better," he said.

ASU-Newport has seen a jump in enrollment from more than 800 students in the fall of 2002 to 1,100 this fall.

Williams said tuition and student fees will be used to pay off the revenue bond used to fund the project.

The school is trying to raise between $500,000-$600,000 in private funds to furnish the building.

The center is expected to open in 2005.