Long before the first shovel full of dirt is moved or
plans can be drawn to renovate a facility, there are a
lot of details that must be worked out. A plan for financing
has to be developed, bankers and lawyers consulted, a program
statement developed and appropriate state approvals granted.
"There is a lot of work that has to be done before you
start to see any construction," said Steve Holda, interim
director of finance for EMU.
 |
TOP PRIORITY: The Pray-Harrold classroom
building
is a top priority of a facilities improvement
fund
created with a 4-percent tuition increase
(from an
overall 13-percent tuition increase) dedicated
specifically for campus facility improvements. |
Last fall, EMU began collecting on a 4-percent tuition
increase dedicated specifically for campus facility improvements.
"That money (approximately $4 million) is being put into
a special account and will only go toward facilities improvements," Holda
said.
Holda said that things are moving forward and that the
first phase of the plan is on course.
"We are laying the groundwork financially. We have engaged
lawyers and bankers to borrow the money, and we are finalizing
the program statement, so we know what we have to have," said
Holda.
A program statement gives all of the stakeholders that
use a facility a chance to weigh in on what the building
should include and provides detailed estimates of project
costs.
Once the program statement is complete, the next steps
include obtaining the necessary approvals from the state,
including the approval, when required, of a Use and Finance
Statement that explains what work is going to be done and
how it will be paid for.
Holda said Phase I of the plan involves borrowing $16
million to be used for work on Pray-Harrold and the renovation
of Downing Hall.
"The dorm renovations will be paid back by auxiliary
operations and the work on Pray-Harrold will be paid back
by proceeds from the tuition increase," Holda said.
The EMU Board of Regents made it clear in approving the
tuition increase in August 2005, that the money could only
be used for academic facilities.
Pray-Harrold improvements will include elevator repairs,
air handling and heating and ventilation upgrades, electrical
and plumbing repairs and upgrades, and other critical infrastructure
repairs.
"We had a tremendous response to the renovation of Buehl
Hall and we want to do the same with Downing," Holda said.
The
plan is to renovate the rooms; the bathrooms; the lobby
and common areas; add new furniture and new carpet; and
install a new fire alarm and suppression system, he said.
As for Phase II, which will focus on Mark-Jefferson, Holda
said that development of the program statement is in its
final stages and, once completed, the University will have
a better understanding of the funding required for that
project.
"There are a lot of details that have to be sorted out
before a building goes up and we want to make sure that
everything is in order," Holda said.
The majority of funds borrowed will go toward Mark Jefferson
and Pray-Harrold.
"These have been our top capital priorities for several
years because they serve the most students on our campus.
Their renovation will have a tremendous impact on the educational
experience of students at EMU," Holda said.
