Transformation is underway.
So is this page.
On Friday, October 16, President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty, Ph.D., shared news that will shape Marietta College for generations: Joe H’10 and Linda Chlapaty have made a historic $55 million gift commitment to the College, the largest in Marietta’s nearly 200-year history.
Their generosity will enhance our campus and academic programs, and it reaffirms what Marietta has always stood for: an education that transforms lives. It means new spaces where first-year students find their footing and their friends, and where the next generation of health care professionals learns by doing.
At the top of this page are architectural renderings of new construction projects that will transform campus.
In the coming weeks, we will expand this page as a center for information about the progress of the transformation taking place on campus. Our first opportunity is to provide you a bit more information about the commitment that is a catalyst for this transformation and to answer questions about what it means for life on campus.
What the historic Chlapaty gift commitment means for Marietta and what comes next.
On Friday, October 16, President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty, Ph.D., shared news that will shape Marietta College for generations: Joe H’10 and Linda Chlapaty have made a historic $55 million gift commitment to the College, the largest in Marietta’s nearly 200-year history. You can read more about the announcement at: A $55 Million Investment in Marietta’s Future.
Their generosity will enhance our campus and academic programs, and it reaffirms what Marietta has always stood for: an education that transforms lives. It means new spaces where first-year students find their footing and their friends, and where the next generation of health care professionals learns by doing.
We know a moment like this brings questions. Whether you’re an alum, a student, a parent, a neighbor or a member of our faculty and staff, we've gathered answers to the ones we expect you'll ask most. If yours isn’t here, please reach out to morehistory@marietta.edu.
The gift and the timeline
When will the new first-year housing and the graduate health sciences building be ready?
Here’s the short answer: first-year students will move into a renovated Marietta Hall in Fall 2027, the new first-year housing complex will open in Fall 2028, and the graduate health sciences building will open in Winter 2029.
Our timeline is ambitious but realistic, though we know that timing may need to be adjusted as projects begin. Both projects matter for the students choosing Marietta today and for for them to remain here once they arrive.
Tentative timeline at a glance
- Now: Renovations begin on Marietta Hall
- Fall 2027: The Class of 2031 moves into the renovated Marietta Hall
- Fall 2028: The first-year housing complex is ready for students
- Winter 2029: The graduate health sciences building opens on Fourth Street
First-year housing
A significant part of the gift will go toward fully renovating Marietta Hall and Elsie Newton and Mary Beach Halls. We want our students’ first home on campus to feel modern and welcoming, and to reflect the quality of a Marietta education.
Students will have pod-style restrooms that balance privacy with community, and the rooms will be newly air conditioned, something today’s students expect. A new outdoor space will give residents a place to gather and give Student Life room to host events throughout the year.
To make this possible, Dorothy Webster Hall will be taken down and we currently plan to take down Russell Hall. A key contributing factor to why we decided to take down Dorothy Webster is because it is beyond reasonable repair given its age and condition. Russell is in the flood plain, which makes renovating it unfeasible. We know many alumni have wonderful memories of these halls, and we hope you will share them with us via our More Memories/More History submission form. We are confident the new spaces will become places where future Pioneers make memories of their own.
Graduate health sciences building
The new building on Fourth Street will include classrooms, laboratories, simulation spaces and areas where students and faculty can work side by side. Students will be able to do simulations and other hands-on training right here on campus, while continuing to gain clinical experience with our health care partners.
Making room for the building means removing Pioneer House, Hopewell House, and Barbara Diggs Lyles House. You will find more below about how we plan to honor Barbara Diggs Lyles ’51, Marietta’s first African American woman graduate.
We will share more details as construction gets closer.
Campus life during construction
Where will first-year students live while the halls are under construction?
Renovations to Marietta Hall will be finished before the Class of 2031 arrives in Fall 2027. Sophia Russell Hall is still a functioning residence hall that can be used next fall. If we need more space while the remaining halls are completed, we will make additional rooms available elsewhere on campus.
Where will members of Alpha Sigma Phi live after the Hopewell House is taken down?
The Office of Student Life and other College leaders will work closely with chapter members to find a space in an existing residence hall that they can call home before Hopewell House comes down.
Will current students be affected by construction noise, parking or closed paths?
Marietta has completed many construction projects over the years, including Legacy Library, the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center and Harrison Hall. While it’s impossible to eliminate every inconvenience, we will work closely with the construction company to limit noise during peak hours and keep other disruptions to a minimum. If pathways or parking need to change, we will make sure there are good alternatives for students, employees and visitors.
What will happen on Fourth Street during construction, and how will neighbors be kept informed?
This project will transform the Fourth Street side of campus, but it also means 18 to 24 months of construction. There will be some inconveniences, and we will do everything we can to keep them to a minimum. We will stay in regular contact with our campus partners and the broader Marietta community, especially our downtown neighbors, through email updates and on a project web page that will be added later this fall.
Will the renovated halls be accessible to students with disabilities?
Yes. The renovated residence halls, as well as the new health sciences building, are designed to have accessible rooms and common spaces on the first floors.
Honoring our history
How will the College continue to honor Barbara Diggs Lyles ’51?
Dr. Barbara Diggs Lyles ’51 was Marietta’s first African American woman graduate, and she earned her degree in just three years. She later recalled that when administrators learned she was African American, her arrival was “both unexpected and undesirable.” She persevered. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Marietta, she went on to earn a master’s degree in psychology from Howard University and a Ph.D. in psychoeducational studies from the University of Maryland.
Her determination opened doors for every student who followed. We named the house on Fourth Street for her so that her story would be part of daily life on campus, and that commitment has not changed.
Her legacy will have a permanent place at Marietta. We are committed to creating a new and lasting tribute, and we will develop it together with her family, alumni and College leadership. We will share those plans before the completion of both facilities.
In the meantime, the student programming that has called Barbara Diggs Lyles House home will move to Andrews Hall, right in the center of campus.
How will the College recognize the people behind the other named buildings being removed?
Every name on a Marietta building represents someone who made a real difference here, and we do not take that lightly. As plans for the new first-year housing and graduate health sciences building take shape, we will work with families and alumni to find meaningful ways to carry their legacies into these new spaces. We will share those plans as they are finalized.
We also know these buildings hold countless memories. We would love for alumni to share their stories with us, so we can collect, preserve and share them as we look ahead to our 200th anniversary in 2035.
Will anything be saved from the buildings, such as bricks, signs or plaques?
Yes. We are still deciding exactly what will be preserved for historical purposes. We are also exploring ways for alumni to purchase bricks and other items as keepsakes.
Can I share memories or photos of these buildings?
Please do! We would love to collect your memories and photos and feature them on the College’s website. You can submit them at More Memories/More History.
At the President's State of the College Address, the announcement of a $55 million gift commitment brought the crowd to its feet.
Health care and our region
How will these graduate programs help meet health care needs in southeastern Ohio and Appalachia?
Hospitals and health care providers across our region need more trained professionals. We have heard that clearly in conversations with local health care leaders and through the work of Marietta College’s Center for Appalachian Innovation. The College is building a set of integrated programs to enhance our region and its workforce. The graduate programs we plan to add are designed to help fill those positions. They include our current Physician Assistant Program, as well as two additional graduate programs in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Occupational Therapy.
Will the College keep its relationships with local hospitals and clinical partners?
Yes. We have strong, long-standing partnerships throughout the regional health care community, and we have consulted many of those partners about which programs to add and what the new health sciences facility should include.
The campaign and how to help
What is The Campaign for Marietta College: More History to Make?
It’s a five-year effort to bring the College’s strategic plan to life. That plan is an ambitious vision for Marietta’s future, developed by senior leadership and the Board of Trustees together with faculty, staff and students.
The campaign’s goal is $55 million, or $11 million a year for the next five years. It’s separate from the Chlapatys’ $55 million gift and doesn’t fund the new building projects. Instead, it supports four initiatives:
- Advancing Innovation and Access
- Fostering Student Engagement and Success
- Cultivating Community Partnerships
- Securing a Strong Financial Future
To learn more, visit marietta.edu/morehistory.
Are naming opportunities available in the new spaces?
Yes! Naming a space in one of the new or renovated buildings is a wonderful way for alumni and friends to leave a lasting mark on Marietta. We’ll know how many spaces are available once the final designs for each building are complete.
As these projects move forward, we’ll also look for ways to honor the people whose names were on the buildings being removed. To learn more, please contact our Advancement team at morehistory@marietta.edu.
How can I support the campaign or these projects?
Every Pioneer connects with Marietta in a different way. You may be passionate about opening doors for students, creating transformative learning experiences, strengthening our community, advancing a particular program or making sure Marietta is ready for generations to come.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and you do not need to know exactly where to begin. Just reach out to the Advancement Team at morehistory@marietta.edu and tell us a little about what inspires you. A member of our Advancement team will follow up personally to listen, answer your questions and help you find the opportunity that feels most meaningful to you. You can also learn more at marietta.edu/morehistory.
How can I follow the progress of construction?
In the coming weeks and months we will post regular updates, including photos and videos, along with a timeline on this page so you can keep track of our progress.