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Board Approves $35.5 Million in Residence Hall Renovations
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Residence halls at Michigan Technological University will receive $35.5 million in life and fire safety improvements, and other renovations. The university's Board of Control approved proceeding with detailed planning and future bonding for the projects.
The board also went on record opposing the state ballot proposal that would divert tobacco settlement funds away from the Michigan Merit Awards. These awards are providing Michigan Tech students with $1.8 million in scholarship funds this year.
The renovations include sprinklers, alarms, and smoke detection improvements in all three residence halls. The work in McNair Hall and Douglass Houghton Hall will be completed in 2003.
Wadsworth Hall, the university's largest residence hall with 1,200 occupants, will receive $31 million in improvements. The renovation will include dismantling the inside of the building to install fire protection and replace all of the wiring and plumbing.
Other major improvements will include new furniture and upgraded restrooms. More rooms will have private baths and there will be additional laundry, study and kitchenette spaces spread throughout the building.
The university built Wadsworth Hall in two phases, with the first completed in 1955 and the second in 1959. This will be the first major renovation since the building was completed.
"We need to make the life, health safety, and accessibility improvements," said Bill Blumhardt, director of facilities management at the university. "But we also need to meet the demands of our marketplace. We are primarily a residential campus and outdated facilities can turn away prospective students."
An increase in room and board rates would repay the bonds. "An increase of $2 per day would cost a resident an additional $462 per year," Blumhardt said.
Among the 11 state-assisted universities with on-campus housing, Michigan Tech would move from 10th to 4th in room and board rates.
Michigan Tech currently carries the least amount of long-term dept in the state, at just under $12 million. As a comparison, two universities with similar enrollment, Saginaw Valley and Northern Michigan, carry debts of $53 million and $43 million, respectively.
The Wadsworth Hall renovations will take place over three summers, in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
In other business, the board:
* authorized the administration to proceed with design and construction of the Advanced Technology Development Center and awarded the professional services contract to U.P. Engineers and Architects.
* appointed Dan Greenley as board treasurer and chief financial officer, removing the "interim" from his title.
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Room and Board Rates at State-Assisted Michigan Universities
1 University of Michigan $6,366
2 Western Michigan University $6,128
3 Ferris State University $5,968
4 Grand Valley State University $5,656
5 Eastern Michigan University $5,597
6 Central Michigan University $5,524
7 Lake Superior State University $5,488
8 Saginaw Valley State University $5,485
9 Northern Michigan University $5,460
10 Michigan Technological University $5,445
11 Oakland University $5,227
12 Michigan State University $4,932 |
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