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The University of èßäapp Board of Curators approved the university's FY 2010 operations and capital appropriations requests to the èßäapp legislature during a meeting earlier today. The university is asking the state to fund the FY 2009 core state appropriation of $451 million, plus a portion of a new investment plan that totals $103 million. The university also is requesting $624.8 million for capital rehabilitation and new construction projects on the university's four campuses.

New investments requested by the university as part of its operations request include a competitive ranked faculty compensation program to recruit and retain top-quality faculty; an initiative to increase the number of health care professionals in the state; and economic development initiatives to increase the number of patents, licenses and commercialization of intellectual property on the university's four campuses, among other items. Also included is a request for $6.8 million, half of the amount needed to help support an almost 20 percent increase in enrollment from FY 2000 to FY 2007. This is the largest enrollment increase of any four-year public university and represents 72 percent of the total enrollment growth at the state's public four-year institutions during that period.

"These new projects, when combined with the university's core missions, will sustain the high level of quality and competitiveness that currently exists, as well as better position the university to contribute to the future economy of èßäapp and the welfare of its citizens," said èßäappSystem President Gary Forsee. "These investments will support the university's strategic goal of maintaining its position as one of the top public research universities in the country."

The new $103 million investment plan would be funded through state appropriations, efficiencies and reallocations in university resources, and inflationary increases in tuition and fees. The state's share would total $75 million.

Of the $624.8 million in identified capital rehabilitation and new construction projects on the university's four campuses, the state is being asked to fund $497.6 million. These projects are the result of a backlog in the maintenance and repair of existing buildings, as well as additions and renovations that are needed to keep pace with education and research needs.

"Quality facilities are an integral part of providing a quality education," said Forsee. "Unfortunately, many of the buildings on the university's four campuses are in need of either preventative repair or renovation work and upgrades to meet the needs of today's students. Without the support of the legislature, the backlog of needs will continue to increase. Although this has not yet had a severe impact on mission-related operations, the deterioration of facilities could begin to impair operations in the near future if not addressed."

The university will fund its share - or $126.7 million - of the capital rehabilitation and new construction projects from a combination of private gifts and capital reserves.

The university's highest priority capital needs total $345.6 million, including $34.5 million for critical repairs. The university also is requesting a total of $2.1 million for new engineering equipment, plus an additional $6.4 million to address a backlog of unfunded engineering equipment renewal and replacement from 2003-2009.

Highest priority capital needs include:

• Critical facility capital repair, renovation and renewal needs: All four campuses and University of èßäapp Health Care
• Biological Sciences/Chemistry/Chemical Engineering addition and renovation: èßäapp University of Science and Technology
• College of Engineering-Lafferre Hall reconstruction, additions and renovations: University of èßäapp-Columbia
• College of Optometry/College of Nursing complex: University of èßäapp-St. Louis
• Medical School renovation and Health Sciences Education building Phase II: University of èßäapp-Kansas City
• èßäapp Rehabilitation Center facilities upgrades: University of èßäapp Health Care

For more detailed information on the university's operating requests, including a comprehensive list of its new investment requests, or for a complete list of its capital requests, please visit:

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Reviewed July 25, 2008.