Technology, research get funding

FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Board of Regents approved the UA’s request for money from the state’s Technology and Research Initiative Fund at yesterday’s meeting, but not without stipulations.

The proposal included a request for money to support a joint project with Arizona State University that would create a biomedical campus in metropolitan Phoenix.

This part of the UA and ASU’s proposal was given the go-ahead for the fiscal year 2007 only. The rest of the money, to fund the project until 2011, is still up in the air.

Regents said they wanted President Robert Shelton and ASU President Michael Crow to have a more detailed plan for the research center by Jan. 1, which they will then review for approval.

Board president Robert Bulla said he was impressed by the initiative the two universities were showing in their proposals for the center.

Regents approved another $10.5 million for the project, which the UA and ASU will provide from their fiscal year 2008 operating budgets. UA will pay for half, or $5.25 million.

Shelton succeeded in lobbying for more of the state’s TRIF money to go to several other projects in Tucson. Funds include $3.3 million for a brain-research institute and $1.48 million for an online nursing degree program.

Some TRIF money, less than $1 million a year until 2011, will go to research on sustainable city growth in arid climates.

Regents approve $35.6M request for operating budget

Regents decided on a $35.6 million operating budget for the UA’s fiscal year 2008 and gave Shelton a slight grilling in the process.

The UA was the only of Arizona’s major universities to experience a drop in enrollment since last year, most of it coming from the UA South campus.

Regents asked why UA South had 300 fewer students this year than last; the loss factored into an overall loss of 261 full-time students at the university.

Shelton told the board that several important faculty members left the UA South campus over the course of two years, which probably impacted the student body.

The president noted that UA South is now under new leadership, which will help to turn around enrollment problems.

Gerald Jubb, dean and interim associate vice president of the campus, said he plans to make more contact with community colleges and local high schools to attract students.

Jubb said he is confident that the unique degrees and focus on teaching education will bring UA South back up to normal enrollment by next fall. He said the lower number of students has shrunk his budget, but he is happy with the support he’s getting from the UA main
campus.

Dorms to be renovated

The regents approved UA’s $37.4 million capital improvement plan, which will be used for building renovations within the next three years.

This money will be appropriated to the future construction on residence halls, including Coronado, Cochise, La Paz and Apache-Santa Cruz.

The renovations will take place through 2011.

ðCompiled by Matt Andazola and Kelly Lewis