UNF poised to receive record state funding

It’s proving to be a fruitful first year for UNF President John Delaney, with the University on the verge of receiving record state funding from the Legislature for new construction.

The Senate and the House have agreed on more than $17 million in PECO funds for UNF in their appropriations bills. Director of Governmental Relations Janet Owen said the high level of funding in the budgets of both chambers early in the session was an indication of the amount of support for UNF in Tallahassee.

This year’s legislative session concluded April 30.

If signed by the governor, UNF would receive about $17.4 million in PECO funds, a record for the University in a single legislative session. In recent years, UNF has received substantially less than requested, primarily because of a reduction in utility receipts that fund PECO.

Delaney, who personally visited Tallahassee several times during the session, said he was gratified by the Legislature’s support for higher education in general and UNF in particular. He specifically praised the Duval Legislative Delegation for working diligently to meet the needs of UNF.

The largest chunk of UNF PECO funding, $8.8 million, will be for the construction of a Social Sciences Building. The existing Social Sciences Building (Building 11) has been plagued by water intrusion and mold problems. It has forced the building’s second floor to be closed. Faculty, staff and classes also had to be relocated.

The funding will allow for the construction of a building in the area of Parking Lot 7. The existing building will be demolished after the new facility is opened. The 2003 Legislature appropriated $2 million toward the project, and this year’s request should fulfill the necessary funding.

The University received $4.2 million for Student Affairs administration space. The proposed student union would house student support space, along with the co-location of the administrative offices for the Division of Student Affairs, which will include offices, conference/seminar rooms and similar administrative units.

This new space will provide the opportunity to remodel the existing space into much-needed classroom and office space for Academic Affairs.

Another $2.3 million is for the UNF Health Professions Facility in the UNF Soccer/Track Stadium. This facility is designed to house UNF’s expanding academic programs in physical therapy, athletic training, sports medicine and rehabilitation, and health promotion. Co-location of these academic programs is expected to result in many efficiencies and economies, as students and faculty in these programs will be able to share equipment and laboratory facilities.

Utilities and infrastructure improvements will receive $2 million.

The House and the Senate also agreed to give UNF $100,000 toward its plan to purchase the First Coast Technology Park for future University expansion.

UNF also will receive enrollment growth funding for next fiscal year. State universities did not receive any enrollment growth funding last year.

More than $5 million is for matching the backlogged private gifts received during the recently concluded Access to Excellence capital campaign. This represents a significant increase over past years, when matching gift allocations were virtually wiped out by budget constraints.