MUNCIE, Ind. - Improvements to the Ball State University football stadium, and construction of a campus bell tower were approved Monday by the executive committee of the Board of Trustees.

The committee, made up of trustees Thomas DeWeese, Gregory Schenkel, Frank Bracken and Hollis Hughes, Jr., authorized funding for permanent south end zone seating and new locker room and training facilities for the stadium. The project is another step in stadium expansion and installation of an artificial turf field that have been completed in recent years.

The expansion and renovations are to be paid entirely with private funds.

The trustees also approved using private gifts for the construction of a 150-foot carillon tower on McKinley Avenue that will serve as a focal point for the north quadrangle area.

Vice President for Business Affairs Thomas Kinghorn said work on both the football training facility and the bell tower should begin next summer and be completed in the summer of 2001.

Last week the university unveiled a five-year $90 million comprehensive campaign called, "Above and Beyond: the Campaign to Advance Ball State" that includes support for both projects.