AUGUST 27, 1998-vol30n1: Pataki announces capital commitment

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 35 THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1998

Pataki announces capital commitment
$105 million in state funding will be used to construct, renovate five buildings

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor

Prevented by inclement weather in Albany from personally delivering his message, Gov. George Pataki announced Monday via a live broadcast that UB will receive $105 million in state capital funding over the next five years.

The funding will be used to construct or renovate five buildings on UB's North and South campuses. The projects will enhance student services, promote academic excellence, integrate health-science education, provide economic opportunity and extend access to information technology.

The announcement was aired in the atrium of the Center for the Arts, where more than 100 state legislators; SUNY trustees; UB Council members, and UB administrators, faculty and staff were gathered.

The funding is part of $2 billion in capital investments to upgrade facilities across New York State.

Calling the State University of New York system "one of the finest in America," Pataki said the investment in UB and SUNY also is an investment in the future of New York State, and "something our students need so we can have the finest-prepared workforce."

He noted that a number of legislative changes have been made to benefit students, including an increase in funding to the Tuition Assistance Program and a measure that allows students to purchase textbooks without paying sales tax.

The relationship between the state and SUNY, Pataki added, is a "partnership" that he is "confident is one that has worked well" and will continue in the future to "make SUNY and the state stronger as we head toward the 21st century."

President William R. Greiner praised the $105 million state investment in UB, adding: "This is a great day for UB, and we think it's a great day for New York State."

Greiner noted that SUNY and New York State must "maintain the quality of the more than $1 billion in capital that the North and South campuses represent."

In times of budgetary crisis, he added, too many campuses try to find savings through "deferred maintenance" that winds up costing far more in the long run.

"This is a good time to do some investment so we won't find ourselves in the pickle that a whole lot of institutions find themselves in," Greiner said.

"This is about investment. The future of New York depends on wise use of public funds."

UB projects that will benefit from the funding include:

n Student Services Building. To be located on a site on the north side of the academic spine between Capen Hall and the Hamilton Loop on the North Campus, the building will consolidate units providing student services-including financial aid, admissions and career planning and placement-that currently are spread across two campuses.

· Student Access Computer Labs. This initiative will support renovation of the Undergraduate Library on the North Campus to accommodate 50 personal computers and plug-in ports for laptops. The library is one of several sites being developed across the campus to assist the university in implementing a new policy-one of the first at a public research institution in the Northeast-requiring students to have access to a personal computer by the Fall 1999 semester. The policy is part the university's ongoing efforts to upgrade equipment and infrastructure to support teaching, research and administrative needs and become a technological leader in higher education.

· Comprehensive Health Science Education Center (CHSEC). This initiative will expand campus-based, health-care education and research through the creation of CHSEC. Farber Hall on the South Campus will be renovated to provide a multidisciplinary clinical teaching environment for the schools of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Related Professions. Patients will receive care from these diverse specialties in a single setting.

· Acheson Hall. The former home of the Department of Chemistry on the South Campus will be renovated to house the School of Pharmacy and a research park designed to attract high-technology industry, including a pharmaceutical biotechnology center, to collaborate with health-sciences faculty and expand job opportunities for Western New York residents.

· Mathematics Building. The new building, to be located near the Natural Sciences Complex and the Computing Center on the west end of the North Campus academic spine, will house the Department of Mathematics, the last of the arts and sciences units located on the South Campus. The design of the $7 million building is complete, with construction bids set to be opened in mid-September.

President William R. Greiner called the announcement "an extraordinary investment" that will help UB provide New York State with "knowledge and knowledgeable people."

"The future of this state will depend on its 'people power,'" Greiner said. "But in order to educate the state's future workforce," he added, "we need to make investments in physical capital."

The new Student Services Building, Greiner said, will serve as "a one-stop shopping place" that will "make life better for students."

The new center also will open up space currently occupied by offices such as financial aid and admissions that will be converted into high-tech classroom space.

Referring to the Comprehensive Health Science Education Center, Greiner said it will provide new, hands-on learning experiences for students in the health sciences by providing a place where patients will visit and be treated by teams of physicians, dentists, nurses and therapists.

Also praising the state investment in UB capital projects were

two state legislators and a member of the SUNY Board of Trustees who were among those present for the announcement.

"All of SUNY moves forward with this major investment," said State Senator Mary Lou Rath, who noted the investment will benefit not only the university, but business, by matching education with workforce needs.

UB, SUNY and New York State all "look forward to a bright and shiny future," she said.

State Senator Dale Volker noted the funding would help UB to continue to be a player in what he called "the world competition."

"UB is alive, well, and through the money the governor is delivering today will be even better in the future," he added.

SUNY Trustee Pamela Jacobs called the announcement of the capital projects "the opening of an excellent new chapter in the University at Buffalo success story."

Calling UB "one of the finest institutions of learning in the United States, " she added: "The reputation of UB is something we're very proud of."