Thursday, January 10, 2008
Trustees prepare for presidential search; review University Center expansion project
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The Board of Trustees for the University of Southern Indiana met in Indianapolis January 10, 2008 with an agenda that included plans for a presidential search, presentation of preliminary plans for the University Center Expansion/Renovation project, and review of the 10-year capital improvement plan. The presidential search schedule followed the announcement on January 7 that President H. Ray Hoops would retire as of June 2009. In business related to the presidential search, the trustees approved the composition and purpose of a search and screen committee and a proposed timeline. The search and screen committee will be composed of trustees, a support staff member, a senior administrator, five faculty members representing respective colleges, an Extended Services representative, the chair of the USI Foundation Board of Directors, community representatives, and an alumni representative. John Dunn, chair of the Board of Trustees, also will serve as chair of the search and screen committee. The search and screen committee will review applications as received next September and October, reduce the pool to semi-finalists, interview semi-finalists, and recommend five finalists for on-campus interviews. The finalists will visit campus in January 2009 and trustees hope to announce an appointment by March 1, with the new president taking office July 1, 2009. In other business, Holzman Moss Architecture of New York City presented the design of the University Center expansion and renovation project. The design incorporates the building that was original library space. That space was vacated when the new Rice Library opened in 2006. In pre-design plans, architects using input from students, faculty, alumni, and community representatives considered these as some of the goals for the redesign: • Improve entryway to the building • Increase social interaction through new communal gathering spaces • Easier access to space that serves community outreach functions The first phase of the project is expected to be bid in fall 2008. The architects are developing a master plan for the facility in multiple stages, depending on funding. The trustees also reviewed the 10-year capital improvement plan. The plan is divided into near-term, mid-term, and long-term segments covering 2009 to 2019. In the near term the University will request $8 million from the state and $7 million in contributions for a teaching theatre. The 350-seat theatre will replace the off-campus USI Theatre located at 3001 Igleheart Avenue. Replacement of the theatre is necessary in the near term due to a planned construction upgrade to State Highway 62 on property where the current theatre is located. In the mid-term (2011-2013), the University will be asking for $2 million for a manufacturing engineering laboratory; the long-term (2013-2019) request is for $31 million for classroom renovation and expansion and $25 million for a new general classroom building. A parking facility is planned for the mid-term. Bonding authorization for $3 million was approved in 2003-05 toward construction of such a facility. The request is for an increase of $4 million in bonding authorization for a total of $7 million for construction of a parking facility, plus $1.25 million for other parking facilities. Plans also call for funding for a student residence building in both the mid-term and in the long-term. Cost is estimated to be $8 million per structure. Other funding is requested for the Physical Activities Center and for phase II of the campus roadway system. In the mid-term, $7 million will be requested from the state and $3 million in funding from other sources and contributions for the PAC and $5 million will be sought from non-state sources for the second phase of the roadway system. |
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