LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas at Little Rock board of visitors backed the construction of oncampus student housing at a Thursday meeting.
The board did not vote 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.
"We are a campus of approximately 12,500 students," said Charles Donaldson, vice chancellor of education and student services.
But the three residence halls on the UALR campus, East Hall, North Hall and South Hall, can accommodate only 650 students, he said.
The halls are at 100 percent capacity, and there is a waiting list of 100 students for the fall semester that is still growing. Even if the university added 500 beds, most students would still be commuters, said Donaldson, who presented plans for the housing complex to the board.
The housing proposal was brought to the board along with other potential construction projects. A bond issue of up to $30 million could be used to help with funding, said Bob Adams, UALR's vice chancellor for finance and administration.
UALR is well within borrowing limits set by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Chancellor Joel Anderson said in a letter to the board of visitors. In two years, UALR will have a number of previously issued bonds paid off, making now a good time to consider a big bond issue, the letter said.
The cost for building the housing complex has not been determined, Donaldson said.
East Hall cost roughly $6 million when it was built in 1991, Donaldson said. North and South halls, which are apartment-style residences, and the commons area between them cost about $18 million when they were built in 2006.
The new residence hall will cater to honors students, whom the university is trying to attract, he said. There are 203 students now in honors programs at UALR. "The timing seems to be right for this complex now," Donaldson said.
Other projects under consideration include an expanded nanotechnology center; a health studies building; a University Plaza professional studies building and conference center; a "one-stop" studentservices center; a power plant; a health, recreation and athletic complex; and space for the Office of Development.
Of the eight projects discussed at the meeting, the board came to a consensus only about building more housing.
The proposal for a health, recreation and athletic complex includes the construction of outdoor track and soccer facilities to help recruit more student athletes, said Chris Peterson, UALR athletics director.
The multiuse complex would also house offices, dressing rooms, grandstands, concessions and a small press box. The complex would also be open to the community.
The proposal offered two options for pricing: 6.7 acres for about $6.2 million or 12 acres for about $8.5 million.
The nanotechnology center project, presented by Provost David Belcher, also drew board interest.
The proposal seeks the expansion of the current Nanotechnology Center from about 8,000 square feet to 40,930 square feet, with hopes that the additional space would allow for more projects and in turn more federal and state grants to support them. The estimated cost for the expanded center is about $14.9 million.
"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.
Three main goals of any new construction are to enhance student living, enhance the school's appearance and enhance the university's relationship with the community, he said.
In 2005, the university completed a strategic plan and a 10-year campus master plan for expansion, Anderson said. UALR owns 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.
University officials will consider the capital projects with the master plan in mind, Anderson said.
Anderson said he believed work on the projects could begin within a year.
The 14-member advisory board plans to meet again in a few weeks to settle on other proposed building projects. The university then sends its plans to the UA System board of trustees for approval.
The UA trustees meet Sept. 4.
"We do have an opportunity to get a better bang for our buck now than we would further down the line," Anderson said. "Despite the economy, we still are in the position to take a bold step or two."
Arkansas, Pages 11, 15 on 07/17/2009