Regents hear legislative appropriations requests

The UNT Board of Regents convened for a telephone meeting Aug. 4 to hear Budget and Finance Committee updates on legislative appropriations requests and to act on one recommended item regarding the campus master plan.

All current regents participated in the special meeting that was necessary because the first draft versions of the requests must be sent to legislative staff in Austin by Aug. 21 — before the start of the next scheduled regents meeting Aug. 25.

Phil Diebel, vice president for finance and business affairs and special assistant to the chancellor, briefed the board on the university’s $18.8 million in special and exceptional item funding requests for the 2002-03 biennium.

Reviewing items in priority order, he reported on the following requests:

• nearly $4.5 million to cover increases in tuition, fees, room and board at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science;
• $5.6 million to cover general operating support to meet the growing demand for degree programs at the UNT System Center at Dallas;
• more than $1.2 million to establish a UNT Center for Solid State Chemistry;
• more than $1.1 million to establish a UNT Center for Watershed Analysis and Management;
• almost $1.1 million to establish an Autism Resource Training Center with a statewide mission;
• $1 million to establish a Texas Center for Environmental Science Education at UNT to create a statewide network of environmental science education mini-centers to encourage the use of the environment as a context for science learning;
• almost $2.4 million for institutional enhancements;
• $200,000 to establish a Center for Volunteerism; and
• almost $1.7 million to help provide computer laboratories, distance education facilities and support staff at the Universities Center at Dallas, which operates under the auspices of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities.

Diebel also reviewed tuition revenue bond projects under consideration for the 2002-03 biennium. They include a new science building (estimated cost $28.6 million) to improve laboratory research for students and faculty members, a new art building (estimated cost $15.5 million) that will add classroom and studio space to accommodate enrollment in the School of Visual Arts, and a new business building (estimated cost $36 million) that will meet the growing enrollment and program requirements of the College of Business Administration.

In other action, the regents unanimously approved a resolution to update the campus master plan using the professional services of KVG Gideon Toal. The architectural firm began working with the university on the development of a comprehensive plan in 1995.

	Regular meeting set for Aug. 25 The UNT Board of Regents will hold its regular quarterly meeting Aug. 25, beginning at 8 a.m. at the UNT System Center at Dallas, 8915 S. Hampton Road. The executive session will be followed by the public session.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Campus construction projects progress
• Push is on to fill Fouts Field for game against Baylor
• Carnegie Foundation gives UNT highest designation
• 'Howdy Week' provides fun for students, faculty, staff
• Vehicle inspections have little impact, researcher finds
• Now students can choose academic theme floors
• New B.F.A. degrees approved
• Planning office surveys current, former students
• Answer line

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