Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services to Move to Opus Hall in 2012

Dr. Mark Dienhart

Dr. Mark Dienhart

Dr. Susan Huber

Dr. Susan Huber

The Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services will move from leased space near the Minneapolis campus to Opus Hall in 2012, and Keffer Library services will be consolidated on the second floor of Opus Hall.

The Interprofessional Center opened in 2003 as a collaboration between the School of Law, School of Social Work and College of Applied Professional Studies to provide services to diverse and underserved populations. Students in training provide services under the close supervision of licensed professionals, including faculty members in the three schools.

University deans, senior administrators and center directors have worked together over the past two years to explore relocation of the IPC, which is housed in the Harmon Court building across from the School of Law. It is anticipated that the move will help to increase the visibility of the center and its services and the possibilities for even better collaboration between the three sponsoring units of the university. It also helps to address the issue of lease costs for the Harmon Court building when space is available on campus.

An assessment of different spaces on the Minneapolis campus has led to the decision to consolidate Keffer Library services on the second floor of Opus Hall and to move the Interprofessional Center from Harmon Court into first floor Opus Hall space. This also presents an opportunity to redesign the second floor of Keffer so that it contains meaningful services on the most accessible floor in Opus Hall. 

Dean Bruce Kramer of the College of Applied Professional Studies, commented on the move: “I want to emphasize our commitment to the library and librarians to preserve a needed presence on the second floor of Keffer. The College of Applied Professional Studies looks forward to the enhanced presence of our library staff and their services that will be a result of this move. Library services are integral to our academic programs, and the relocation of the IPC into Opus Hall will give us wonderful collaborative opportunities.”

Planning for relocation in the summer of 2012 is underway, with two groups – one for programming and the other for space design – being formed. Completion of their work will align with the summer 2012 target date. Those with questions or requests concerning the IPC move and the realignment of Keffer Library services, please contact Linda Halverson, (651) 962-6222.