The Oregon State Board of Higher Education approved a $75-million bond request from the University on Friday for the planned East Campus Residence Hall project.
The approval is the first step in securing the funds. Next, the chancellor of the board must request the funds from the state legislature.
At the meeting, Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes said the residence hall is part of the University’s long-term goal of housing 25 percent of its undergraduate population. The residence hall will hold a projected 449 beds and will also include faculty offices and classrooms.
According to an Oregon University System press release, the building will be designated an “honors and language immersion-theme hall.”
The proposed location of the residence hall is at the intersection of East 15th Avenue and Moss Street.
The Campus Planning Committee is holding a public meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Many Nations Longhouse at 1630 Columbia St. to review the design for the new residence hall. They will also discuss the East Campus Open Space Framework Study, which examines possible scenarios for campus expansion.
At Friday’s board meeting, it was also announced that the Legislative Fiscal Office has requested the OUS to provide plans for a 10 percent budget cut in 2010. According to the OUS press release, the cuts would total $75.1 million in general funds and $2.3 million in lottery funds.
OUS vice chancellor for finance and administration Jay Kenton said at the meeting that the request was due to the continuing economic downturn, as were the tax referenda going to ballot in a special election on Jan. 26., which could veto a $733 million tate tax increase signed into law this summer.
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