Hillsborough College students voice opposition to Rays stadium relocation plan

Students at Hillsborough College face a fragmented spring semester after the Board of Trustees approved a relocation plan tied to the Tampa Bay Rays stadium construction. The decision forces most classes to leave the Dale Mabry campus in Tampa, splitting the student body across two separate locations.

The controversy began when college officials initially proposed moving students into a temporary classroom structure known as the Nest on the existing grounds. After gathering feedback, President Ken Atwater revised the strategy. The new plan sends five healthcare programs to a University of South Florida center in downtown Tampa. All other courses will move to the Tampa Bay Park office complex, situated roughly 1.5 miles from the main campus.

Justin Yearwood, chief of staff for the Student Government Association, told trustees that students lack clear details about the upcoming transition. He noted that while a March move is possible, the academic structure remains undefined. Yearwood also questioned the logistics of the proposed shuttle system, asking whether buses would stop at every building.

“We don't know what routes the buses would be on. We don't know if they're stopping between each of the buildings,” Yearwood said. He criticized administrators for offering repetitive answers rather than addressing specific concerns about the relocation.

Faculty members warned that the split could erode the campus culture. Professor Eric Fisk, a political science instructor, cited a survey of 900 students indicating that roughly 30% might transfer or leave school entirely due to the changes. Fisk argued that the loss of a central gathering place would isolate students from one another.

Atwater acknowledged the inconvenience but defended the decision as necessary for long-term goals. He stated that the new arrangement allows students to learn in permanent buildings rather than temporary facilities. The Board voted to approve the agenda item, authorizing administrators to begin relocating campus assets. Officials plan to return to the trustees with a list of items disposed of during the process.

The approval does not immediately authorize demolition. Instead, it permits the logistical work required to move the student population and equipment to the new sites. The next step involves detailing the specific academic calendar and transportation schedule for the spring term.