LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas in Little Rock board of visitors held a special meeting Monday to discuss spending plans of more than $30 million in bond money. The board agreed to four resolutions related to on-campus construction at the meeting, one of which was to encourage the increase of facility fees at UALR to match those of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
"This [the resolution to increase facilities fees] commends the board of trustees for adopting a facility fee as a means of addressing the long-term maintenance needs of the campus," said Joel Anderson, chancellor of UALR.
This school year was the first year UALR had any facilities fees, Anderson said. Right now, students pay $1 for this mandatory fee. In time, the board of visitors would like to see the fee increased to $4, which is what students at UA-Fayetteville pay.
Most students don't differentiate between tuition and fees, he said. But the cost of going to UALR is very close to the cost of going to UA-Fayetteville and the University of Central Arkansas. It should stay that way even if there were a facilities fee increase, he said.
The board of visitors discussed the possible projects to be funded with bond money at their last meeting on July 16. At that time, the board decided they needed more information before voting on the proposed projects but decided to proceed as soon as possible with plans to build a new honors housing complex that could hold as many as 500 students.
The other resolutions approved at Monday's meeting were to speed up the clearing and redeveloping of the University Plaza area, to endorse other proposed projects and to urge UALR administration to move forward now with those projects.
The other proposed construction projects listed on the resolution draft are to build a Student Services One-Stop Center, provide space for the growing programs in nursing and health sciences, build a facility to accommodate the nanotechnology initiative, and provide a health, recreation and sport complex.
Previous commitments of $5.5 million for the Engineering & Information Technology building, $1.2 million to help with elevator maintenance and a $300,000 match to complete funding for the renovation of the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall make up $7 million of the $31.6 million available for the projects.
The board's Proposed Bond Expenditures outlines $8 million to go to development of the Nanotechnology Sciences Center, $9 million to build the Student Services One-Stop Center, $2.55 million to renovate the Health and Wellness Building, and $4 million to build the Health, Recreation and Sports Complex, leaving $1.05 million in contingency.
Funding for the honors housing is considered independently because it is capable of generating its own revenue.
"It [the list of proposed projects] covers about all that we can cover and gives a little bit to everyone," said Larry Choate, on the board of visitors. "We probably couldn't do better if we deliberated for another 10 or 12 hours."
The university is waiting to find out if two federal stimulus grants for the Nanotechnology Sciences Center and one for the Engineering and Information Technology building have been approved. Approval will mean more bond money will be available to pursue other projects.
"There's not nearly enough money to do everything on the list," said Dr. Dean Kumpuris, chairman of the board of visitors and a member of the Little Rock Board of Directors, at the July meeting.
But there is a pressing need for development now, Anderson said. The Department of Higher Education reported UALR to be short 200,000 square feet for the number of students it serves. As of last fall, there are 12,500 students attending UALR. That number is expected to increase this fall.
In 2005, the university completed a strategic plan and a 10-year campus master plan for expansion, Anderson said in July. The UALR campus consists of 272 acres, bounded by West 20th/ 24th streets to the north, Fillmore Street/Fair Park Boulevard to the east, Asher Avenue to the south and South University Avenue to the west.
The UA trustees meet Sept. 4 on the UALR campus when the 14-member advisory board plans submit its proposals to the UA System board of trustees for approval.
Arkansas, Pages 14 on 08/04/2009