“Back to school” means much more than buying books and school supplies. While our students are making preparations to move to campus and begin classes, those of us who are here year-round are gearing up behind the scenes for a new school year. I’ll be blogging for the next few weeks about some of the ways our Bradley staff is preparing for the 2009-10 academic year.

It may be July, but LeRoy Neilson, our utilities supervisor, is looking past fall and thinking about keeping our students and faculty-staff warm this winter. Those cold days are still months away, but LeRoy is making sure our newly installed boilers are in tip-top shape as he oversees the start-up process for our new boiler plant. The $1 million plant is located beneath the new parking deck along Main Street.

Three immense boilers that hold approximately 4,500 gallons and a “small” 2,000-gallon boiler for our steam heating system were installed late last year. These bright blue boilers replace the old ones we have in Holmes Hall. Two of the large boilers are capable of generating 60,000 pounds of steam per hour. That will heat the entire campus on the coldest winter days. The third large boiler is a back-up.The small one can generate 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of steam per hour and is sized for the summer load, which includes heated domestic water and dehumidification.

The start-up process involves testing and tuning up the boilers to make sure everything is working properly before turning them on. The boilers will be filled with city water, which must be softened and purified to reduce the residue left behind after the water is steamed. He compares it to a tea kettle in which the residue from the water remains in the pot after the water has boiled.

We often taking heating for granted, but this winter, remember all the preparations that went into making sure each of us is comfortable.

Although the benches around campus may be vacant occasionally right now, they won’t be for much longer. It’s hard to believe that in less than one month our students will return as they begin moving gear into their rooms. The residence halls open on August 22 followed by the first day of classes on August 26.

Although the summer is a busy time with summer classes and camps, I always look forward to the return of the majority of our students and faculty in August. The start of the school year is such a fun, exciting time as the campus comes alive with so much activity.

I am looking forward to the return of all our students and extend a special welcome to the class of 2013. See you soon.

Although the typical hustle and bustle our campus feels during fall and spring semesters may not be as prevalent during the summer months, plenty of construction and landscaping activity continues nonstop. I’ve also seen plenty of Bradley students and adolescents on campus as they participate in any of the numerous camps, summer classes, and other programs taking place. Here, construction continues on the Bradley Athletic Performance Center and the Puterbaugh Men’s Basketball Practice Facility.