Bachelor Hall renovations on target to bring a new Humanities Hub to campus
Classes are scheduled to begin in fall 2026 within exciting, collaborative spaces.
Bachelor Hall renovations on target to bring a new Humanities Hub to campus
For months, the buzz of construction has surrounded Bachelor Hall, a familiar sight along Oxford’s Patterson Avenue and State Route 73. But beyond the metal fences and iconic redbrick walls of this 1978 landmark, an exciting transformation is unfolding — paving the way for a dynamic new home for ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s humanities programs.
The Departments of English; History; Media, Journalism, and Film; and Philosophy, as well as the Humanities Center and more, will become the foundation of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s innovative Humanities Hub. The renovated building will feature an enclosed inner courtyard to allow natural light to penetrate into its expanded classroom, office, and shared interactive spaces.
“Since this $72 million project was first announced back in 2022, we’ve come a very long way,” said Renee Baernstein, dean of the College of Arts and Science. “People should expect to be wowed when the unveiling arrives next summer.”
The new Bachelor Hall will also mark the beginning of a bold new era for humanities programs. Careers for humanities majors traverse the spectrum of business, technology, education, government, the arts, and science — and students tap into numerous research, internships, and interdisciplinary opportunities at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú.
A crown jewel of the building will be the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Humanities Center, established in 2009, which offers numerous collaborative and unites them with interdisciplinary faculty representing a wide array of interests and scholarship.
“Recently, we introduced a new to boost participation in humanities courses, research, and co-curricular programming,” said Tim Melley, director of the Humanities Center. “Enrollments are rapidly growing.”
“Our renovations will demonstrate how the humanities embody resiliency, courage, and innovation, helping to counteract the myth that interest in the humanities is old-fashioned,” added Gaile Pohlhaus, CAS associate dean for the humanities.
When it reopens its doors to students and faculty in fall 2026, Bachelor Hall will embrace a renewed commitment to the humanities that harkens back to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s roots. Once referred to as the "Yale of the West,” ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú set new standards for excellence in education and consistently ranks among the nation's top public universities for the quality of teaching and overall student experience.
“The humanities are here to stay, and our humanities hub is going to help propel them to be better than ever,” said Baernstein. “I can’t wait for everyone to see this for themselves next year.”