Fundraising for Samford University's new instrumental music building and recital hall is going well, members of the University's board of trustees executive committee were told Oct. 18.

The capital funding report was part of an otherwise routine meeting for the executive committee, which meets between regular meetings of the full board of trustees.

With more than $7 million in gifts and financial commitments made toward the construction of the $8.3 million music building, fully funding the project is "an easily attainable goal for the Samford family," according to Michael D. Morgan, Samford's vice president for University Relations.

"Within the next few weeks, all Samford alumni, parents, friends and supporters from the community will have the opportunity to complete the funding for this critical project," Morgan said.

The new facility will house teaching, practice and rehearsal facilities for Samford's instrumental music groups, as well as an acoustically state-of-the-art, 300-seat recital hall. The building is expected to be completed in summer 2006.

University officials reported that a master plan is being developed for a new tennis center. Construction on the first phase of the tennis complex will begin as soon as possible.

Planning also continues on a new multipurpose facility, with construction expected to start in early 2006. Other facilities in the active design phase are a new residence hall and a multi-story parking pavilion adjacent to the Wright Fine Arts Center.

In other business, as a response to a request from the Samford Faculty Senate, trustees approved a revised benefit package for University employees whose children are enrolled at Samford's Children's Learning Center. The plan calls for employees to receive a 15 percent tuition reduction to the CLC for the youngest or only child enrolled.