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Board approves biennial capital improvement budget request

September 3, 2020

At its regular meeting on Thursday, September 3, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved the 2021-23 Capital Improvement Budget Request and two new line item requests for presentation to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and State Budget Agency during the 2021 Indiana Legislative Session.

"In determining the Capital Improvement Budget Request, we reviewed the University's 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, while also considering the current environment of public higher education and the fiscal health of our state," said Steve Bridges, Vice President for Finance and Administration. "It's important that we consider the changes to course delivery models, the response to COVID-19 and whether more value can be brought through renovation of existing space rather than new construction." 

The University is seeking $46 million for the proposed capital project, which includes renovation of the Wright Administration Building and phase I of renovation of the David L. Rice Library. Wright Administration renovation will focus on more efficient use of classrooms and creating more student facing spaces within the administration wing. 

"The Wright Administration Building was the first building built on USI's campus in 1967," said Bridges. "The space has been adapted over time but is past due for a renovation."

Phase I of the Rice Library renovation focuses on some of the most utilized student spaces on campus. Proposed renovation would include technology upgrades, more common spaces for study and more coworking spaces for students to work jointly and remotely on group projects. 

The first of two approved line item requests is a Nursing Expansion Initiative which seeks to support the significant healthcare needs of the region and state by building additional capacity in the academically-rigorous and successful nursing program. The second line item is the Strong Start to Completion Program. This program would be designed specifically to meet the needs of minority students in a comprehensive way, from enrollment to graduation.

In other business the Board of Trustees approved housing and meal plan rates for the 2021-22 Academic Year and heard an update on current construction projects.

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