MTU’s largest donation ever will fund new student wellness center
The approximately 90,000-square-foot center will reorganize many of the university’s student services into one location.
What’s happening: The Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees has approved the construction of the Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness, which will be located between Memorial Union and administration buildings. The approximately 90,000-square-foot center will reorganize many of the university’s student services into one location, instead of having them spread across campus. The center will be fully funded through a $55 million gift from Chang K. Park; it’s the largest single gift in the university’s history.
Who is Park: Park is a 1973 Michigan Tech graduate with dual degrees in electrical engineering and engineering administration. After emigrating from Korea as a teenager, Park attended high school in New York City, where he learned a new language and adapted to a new culture — experiences that later informed his work in engineering and international finance and led to the founding of Universal Remote Control, Inc., now a global home-automation company.
He also is the founder of the Chang K. Park Foundation, which he established to advance education, human rights and economic justice. Park often commends the support he received from Michigan Tech staff and faculty as a major influence in his life and has given back to the university in many ways, including being the 2024 commencement speaker.
What they’re saying: “The Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness will be transformational for Michigan Tech and our students,” said Laura Bulleit, who is MTU’s vice president for student affairs. “We have several years of data that show the need for additional mental and physical health support. We also have anecdotal data directly from our students that point to the need for convenient spaces for them to meet their physical fitness goals. The new wellness center will fulfill each of these needs.”
What’s next: The centralization of all-encompassing health services continues Michigan Tech’s push for strong student mental health and well being. Michigan Tech was named to the 2026 Mental Health Services Honor Roll by the Princeton Review, an exclusive list of only 30 institutions of higher learning across the country. The center is expected to be open for the fall 2028 semester.
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