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February 26, 2009, 02:51 PM ET
More Colleges Plan Construction and Growth, Despite Hard Times
As we noted the other day, construction plans and big dreams continue to roll off the drafting tables, despite the horrifying economy. We’re taking note of some recent news here:
Sunshine in Toledo: The University of Toledo wants to establish a campus that will focus on alternative energy, according to an Associated Press story. The university is already recognized as a leader in solar-energy research. The campus would cost $50-million to create. Lloyd Jacobs, the president of Toledo, has asked for $75-million in federal stimulus money for the project. “We think it’s a good shot,” he told reporters.
Broken Ground in Austin: Austin Community College has broken ground on its $119-million Round Rock campus, which will be open for students in 2010. The campus will encompass almost 600,000 square feet. A proclamation declaring the day “Austin Community College Day” in Round Rock was delivered to the groundbreaking by a skydiver. How very Texan.
Greenback Dollar Bill: Albany State University is eager to get money to build a 90,000-square-foot fine-arts center that would feature a 600-seat auditorium, a 200-seat recital hall, television and radio studios, art studios, a gallery, and more. The building would be called the Ray Charles Fine Arts Building for the famous Albany, Ga., native, who has given $3-million to the university, only about $1-million of which remains for the building. According to The Albany Herald, the university has requested $1.8-million from the state for the building’s design and $23.9-million for its construction in 2011.
Both Cutting Back and Growing: The Oregonian notes that Portland State University will have to cut back on some courses because of state budget problems, but the university will also use stimulus money to renovate old lab-building space. The university might also have to rent space in movie theaters to accommodate more students. Applications are up 10 percent for undergraduates and 15 percent for graduate students.
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