UConn Advance - April 24, 2006 - Trustees approve building projects

The Board of Trustees recently approved a $12.5 million project to restore the façade of the Law School Library.

Built by the state Department of Public Works before the UConn 2000 building program began, the library was completed in 1996.

It has had a number of problems with leaks resulting from a façade that was not attached properly to the building, along with windows and flashing that were improperly installed.

While the University is working with the attorney general to get the original contractors to fix the building, it is important that work on the building be done this summer, said Loraine Aronson, vice president and chief financial officer.

The trustees also approved a number of other building projects including:

replacement windows for three residence halls at a cost of $1.2 million;
completing renovations to the Museum of Natural History on Hillside Road at a cost of $976,000;
renovating Lakeside Apartments for use by University Communications at a cost of $5.2 million;
completing the closure of the landfill at a total cost of $28 million;
installing attic sprinklers in Charter Oak Suites at a cost of $605,000;
approval of a budget for renovating the John Dempsey Hospital Electrophysiology and Catheterization Lab at a cost of $5.2 million; and
approval of a planning budget of $3 million to convert Ryan Refectory into space for the Office of International Affairs and for an expansion of the Center for HIV Intervention and Prevention.

In other action, the board approved several changes to language in the University’s laws and by-laws.

One of the changes would make it possible to continue to name faculty members to Board of Trustees Distinguished Professorships when, as is currently the case, the 5 percent limit is approached.

The new language says that three titles “will normally be awarded per year” and that up to five individuals per year may be recognized when the total number of distinguished professors drops below 5 percent of the full professors on the active faculty.

Another change to the laws and by-laws clarifies the language concerning faculty hired from other academic posts.

The language notes that the University may give credit for time spent at other institutions toward the seven years’ probationary time toward tenure at the Storrs-based programs and nine years at the schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine.

Credit for service at other institutions will be clearly spelled out in offer letters, however, Provost Peter J. Nicholls said.

The trustees also approved new language to make the by-laws consistent with the code of conduct and provide that the vice president of student affairs will be the final appellant officer for non-academic behavioral violations of the student code of conduct.

The trustees also approved changes in language regarding grievance procedures for faculty at the Health Center. The changes clarify the definition of “voting faculty” and who may hear the grievances.

The trustees also renamed the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies a Bachelor of Arts, to make it consistent with other programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where it will be housed beginning in July.

The board also renamed the metallurgy and materials engineering major. It is now the materials science and engineering major.

Trustees approve building projects

by Karen A. Grava - April 24, 2006