91ÊÓƵ

Oregon’s four smallest universities on Friday submitted requests for a total of $210.2 million in funding for capital projects and maintenance/repairs in the next biennium.

The requests for 2015-17 were for 15 total capital projects at the Oregon Institute of Technology ($107.9 million), Eastern Oregon University ($35 million), Southern Oregon University ($25.1 million) and Western Oregon University ($20.5 million), as well as deferred maintenance and repairs totaling $21.7 million, according to the State Board of Higher Education.

Most of the requests were made for student instructional buildings, said Di Saunders, director of communications for the Oregon University System.

“The governor prioritized projects (in the 2013-15 biennium) that gave greater access to classrooms rather than buildings such as an athletic center or student union,” she said. “Projects that met the governor’s 40-40-20 achievement goals were given higher priority.”

Requests included $46 million for an engineering and technology building at OIT, $39 million to modernize Cornett Hall at OIT, $23.3 million for a technology-focused learning space at EOU, and a $12.2 million biomass project at SOU, according to the state board.

The requests will be sent to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, which was created to oversee education funding starting July 1, 2015, Saunders said.

The state’s three largest universities – the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University – will make individual funding requests directly to the HECC by Thursday, she said.

The HECC will prioritize all seven universities’ funding requests and submit a single document to the governor’s office in the next several months. The Legislature will then review capital funding decisions during the 2015 session, Saunders said.

Funding requests include:

Oregon Institute of Technology

Capital repairs/maintenance – $13.4 million

Engineering and technology building – $46 million

Cornett Hall construction and modernization – $39 million

New student center building – $15.5 million

Boivin Hall modernization – $7.4 million

Eastern Oregon University

Capital repairs/maintenance – $2 million

Eastern Learning Commons – $23.2 million

Outdoor athletic facilities renovation – $2.9 million

Hunt Hall demolition and site restoration – $3.3 million

Mill Creek restoration and flood mitigation – $5.6 million

Southern Oregon University

Capital repairs/maintenance – $3 million

Britt Hall deferred maintenance – $4.8 million

Cogeneration biomass – $12.2 million

Susanne Homes Hall – $8.1 million

Western Oregon University

Capital repairs/maintenance – $3.3 million

Natural science building renovation – $6 million

Campus-wide ADA improvements – $5 million

Instructional technology center remodel – $4 million

New physical education building remodel – $5.5 million