In an April 30 teleconference meeting, the UNT System Board of Regents confirmed Richard Rafes as UNT senior vice president for administration. Regents also authorized advanced preparation for the construction of a residence hall and a dining facility on the university's Eagle Point Campus (the former Eagle Point Golf Course).

The senior vice president for administration position assumes the majority of the duties of the previous vice president for administrative affairs, including oversight of UNT facilities; police, parking and transportation; human resources; and risk management and environmental services. New responsibilities assigned to the position include oversight of the equal opportunity office and direction of projects assigned by President Norval Pohl, including leading key university initiatives, providing support for day-to-day operations of the president's office and representing the president in working with various internal and external constituencies.

In 22 years with the university, Rafes has served as assistant to the chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel, vice president and general counsel, and vice chancellor and general counsel.

Along with his new duties, Rafes will continue to serve as UNT System vice chancellor and general counsel until the current UNT System search identifies the best candidate and fills the position.

In other actions, the regents authorized a contract with Turner Construction Co. for construction-manager-at-risk services for the construction of a 600-bed residence hall on the Eagle Point Campus. The project, approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, is not to exceed $23.7 million. A construction manager at risk is the contractor selected as the best qualified to provide pre-construction services during a project's design phase who then guarantees a maximum price for construction work on the project.

Finally, the board authorized Turner Construction to proceed with construction of a dining facility and associated infrastructure on the Eagle Point Campus for a cost not to exceed $5.3 million.

The residence hall and the dining facility will be funded by revenue bonds that have been approved by the Texas Bond Review Board and will be paid for primarily by revenue generated by housing and dining services.

The university expects to break ground for the buildings in June or July and open both facilities in August 2004.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Medical geographer researches spread of infectious diseases like SARS
• UNT parking permits for 2003-04 now for sale through intercampus mail
• Two UNT programs ranked high this year by U.S. News and World Report
• Elm Fork Education Center to conduct summer camps
• Staff Council holds its final meeting of the 2002-03 academic year
• Staff awards presented at President's Staff Sack Lunch
• Tips to help control mosquitoes

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