Trustees will meet, discuss capital plan

Jackie Valley

The university will seek approval from the Board of Trustees tomorrow for a six-year comprehensive capital plan, which estimates the needed state appropriates for projects deemed the highest priority by Kent State.

David Creamer, senior vice president for administration, said the university outlines its capital plan every two years for the Ohio Board of Regents because the state provides capital appropriations intended to cover large costs for buildings at public institutions.

The suggested state appropriations for 2009-2010 total more than $21 million with a majority of the funding going toward a reimbursement for the Oscar Ritchie Hall renovations and additional funding for the Music and Speech Center renovations and addition.

Creamer said the capital plan is divided among three two-year increments. The 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 increments are used for long-range planning.

Creamer, however, said the exact amount of funding is not known until the Ohio Board of Regents approve the plan and appropriate the funds.

“We’re generally expecting the amounts used to build these buildings for at least two years will be appropriated,” he said.

Other decision items at the meeting include:

n Establishment of an entrepreneurship major within the bachelor of business administration degree program

n Approval of a business and administration entrepreneurship classroom and lab provided by a $400,000 gift made to the university from John Brinzo

n Purchase of the Tonge property at 425 College Ave. for an estimated $120,000 value to provide additional parking near Franklin Hall

n Resolution of support for a Kent State University Museum

On the agenda, President Lester Lefton will also ask the Board for a resolution of support for a Commission on Inclusion.

Lefton said the goal of the commission will be to make “Kent State a model of an inclusive, welcoming environment for people of all walks of life, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability, gender and other categories.”

More details will be provided at the Board meeting. For a complete list of items on the meeting agenda, visit http://www.kent.edu/Administration/board_of_trustee/meeting_schedule.cfm.

Contact administration reporter Jackie Valley at [email protected].