SCHEV urges more funds for higher ed buildings

By Anne Bromley

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is recommending an additional $286 million in general fund support to address building needs at Virginia's public colleges and universities. SCHEV sent this and other 2000-02 budget amendments to the governor and the General Assembly Oct. 17. The governor prepares the 2001-02 budget this month.

In the current 2000 Appropriation Act, the governor and General Assembly provided $205.5 million in general funds for capital outlay.

SCHEV members decided to target capital outlay due to concern about the backlog of deferred maintenance at higher education institutions and schools' already identified needs for substantial renovation and improvement of facilities.

"It would help tremendously," said Nancy Rivers, U.Va.'s director of state governmental relations. Some of the initiatives have been included in the six-year Institutional Performance Agreement U.Va. recently submitted to the state.

The University's projects included in the SCHEV recommendation are: renovations to Fayerweather Hall, Cocke Hall and Gilmer Hall teaching labs, plus a Campbell Hall chiller replacement and Medical Center stormwater and sewer work.

Along with boosting funds for maintenance reserve, the recommendation includes partial funding for a Central Grounds chilled water plant and an electrical vault to upgrade service to several Health System buildings.

SCHEV is also recommending that faculty salary increases averaging about 4 percent be provided in the upcoming fiscal year. A 3 percent annual increase for administrative faculty, part-time faculty and graduate teaching assistants is also recommended. The governor and General Assembly had not included increases in the second year of the biennium budget.