Colleges and universities are vital to the continued well-being of all Americans. Our educational institutions provide critical human capital that in turn guarantees us a coveted competitive advantage in the world. And, it is on university campuses where an abundance of cutting-edge research is performed. This work product also contributes to the global stature of America.

The research capabilities of a university attract students, motivate benefactors and bring prestige to the state where the institution is located. There is always a need for more funding and now, with reduced funding available at the state level, educational institutions are competing ferociously for federal grants and other available program funds. 

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State officials seeking new source of revenue, ability to shed some of risk

The Purple Line, a 16-mile railway proposed in suburban Maryland, is looking for a partner. The Maryland Department of Transportation apparently is seeking a private-sector partner(s) for a public-private partnership (P3) that will bring new funding to the table and decrease the amount of risk the state will take on.

The Washington Post reports that what is being considered is a P3 that spreads the risk between all partners, public and private. Such an agreement will spare the state financial liability as a result of construction delays or materials price increases. If such a partnership comes to fruition, the private sector partners likely would provide half of the funding for the $2.2 billion project. The private partners would be reimbursed their funding as the work is carried out. The Maryland Board of Public Works was scheduled to review the plan today, Wednesday, to determine if the proposal process goes forward.

The biggest question facing the project is how the residents of the area will react to having the transit line run through their neighborhoods. Concerns about noise from the line already have been expressed by those living in residential areas near the proposed line. Others have expressed concern about the interruption of pedestrian crossings. 

State Transportation Commission allocates $359 million for projects

Thirty-six highway, bike and passenger rail projects have been singled out by the California Transportation Commission for funding. The Commission is allocating $359 million for those projects.

"These projects allow millions of dollars to flow into construction and produce enormous economic benefits for California," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty (pictured).

Some of the projects funded include:

• $140 million to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to purchase 46 new rail cars for the BART/Caltrain Milbrae Station;
• $20.5 million for San Joaquin County to build 3.8 miles of double railroad track and related infrastructure modifications on the BNSF Railway Co. main line for intercity rail passenger services;
• $9.95 million for San Joaquin County to widen and upgrade road intersections, repair pavement, place shoulder and median rumble strips and upgrade drainage on 12 miles of Highway 4;
• $1.752 million to Sacramento Regional Transit District for improvements on connectivity of Sacramento Regional Transit service to high speed rail, with relocation of existing light rail track, storage tracks, passenger platform and associated systems;
• $43.8 million to Modesto for the Pelandale Avenue Interchange;
• $3.25 million for Stanislaus County to widen Claribel Road from Highway 108 to Oakdale Road to two lanes and to install a necessary signal; and
• $840,000 for Stanislaus County to build a bike path.

Oklahoma considering constructing safe rooms on school campuses

The Oklahoma City School Board recently rejected all bids it had received for a new gym at Nichols Hills Elementary in favor of asking those who bid to offer new proposals that include costs for both a gym and a safe room. The school board is considering a policy that would mandate construction of safe rooms to protect the students and teachers from inclement weather. That decision follows the deaths in May of seven elementary school students when a tornado hit their school. An initiative is being pushed that would allow voters in the state to decide if the state should borrow $50 million to improve school safety after the governor said the building of school shelters should be left up to local voters. The city has 84 schools.

Oklahoma State approves $65 million University Commons project

A $65 million project is slated at Oklahoma State University (OSU) that will replace one of the university's oldest residence halls with the two-tower University Commons. Kerr-Drummond, which opened in 1967, will be demolished. Matthew Brown (pictured), OSU's director of Housing and Residential Life, said it would cost more than $50 million to refurbish the old residence hall. "We decided to evaluate the option of new construction and find it would make more sense to replace Kerr-Drummond," said Brown. Although building the University Commons will cost more than the cost of rehabilitating Kerr-Drummon, Brown said in the long run, "It makes the most sense." The new facility will have what Brown called "world-class, country club-style bathrooms" shared by about 20 students. The new facility is expected to be completed in time to serve the class of 2015. Construction is expected to take 20 months and be completed by August 2015. The new towers also will feature more than 950 beds.

Three major capital projects approved for Washington State University

Regents at Washington State University recently approved construction of three multi-million-dollar capital projects on the campus. The projects include a $52.8 million Clean Technology Laboratory Building, a $40 million residence hall and a $10 million replacement of the university's plant science research infrastructure with a new building. The Clean Technology Laboratory Building will house science and engineering programs in its 96,000 square feet on the Pullman campus. The building's design was approved in May 2012, and construction is expected to be completed in summer 2015. The facility will be partially funded by a $20 million general revenue bond. The university has also requested that the state appropriate $30.3 million toward the project. The dormitory will be a second Northside Residence Hall building. The 100,000-square-foot building will house 250 beds. Construction is expected to begin next March and be completed in June 2015. The plant science research infrastructure will be replaced with a new 34,000-square-foot plant growth facility. It will include both new greenhouses and approximately 50 growth chambers.  

City in Texas gearing up for bond election in November 2014

Denton, Texas, City Council members recently began gearing up for a proposed bond election in November 2014 asking voters to approve from $30 million to $50 million to pay for construction projects for the next five years. In a recent council session, city department heads outlined their priorities for capital improvement projects, including street reconstruction, a new library branch and numerous upgrades to parks. The cost of the priority projects backed by staff ranged from $141 million to almost $162 million. Council members also agreed they support $4 million yearly in bond funds allotted for street reconstruction and to renovate fire stations, at a total cost of $19 million, while the mayor supported building a downtown parking garage. Council members plan to appoint 50 members to a bond committee that will be charged with planning the November bond election in addition to reviewing and prioritizing the capital improvement projects to be included in the bond proposition.

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University of Kentucky uses P3 for expansion, modernization project

The University of Kentucky recently celebrated a groundbreaking of its Gatton College of Business and Economics expansion and modernization project, the result of a public-private partnership (P3). It is just another example of a P3 the university has instituted as part of its capital improvement plan. UK President Eli Capilouto (pictured) is not unlike the heads of many other state-supported universities - all experiencing reduced state support and looking to P3s to help provide necessary revenue for the continuing needs of the university. "If we were going to meet the needs of our students, faculty, staff and the state we serve, we had to collaborate to find the solution," said Capilouto. He said this new project is "a concrete example of the power of partnership." The $65 million project will go forward thanks to passage of legislation in the state that authorized $363.3 million in agency bonds by Kentucky's public universities for campus improvements supported by university revenues. The university already has raised $45 million in private donations toward the project. Once the expansion and renovation is completed, Gatton College will be larger and more modern, with living and educational areas, a 500-seat auditorium, 20 new classrooms and an outdoor garden plaza. Construction is expected to be completed in 2016.

 Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.com and let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature Larry Parman.

Mark Wandro (top left), who has spent the past nine years working for an Ankeny-based engineering consulting firm, has been named the next Polk County administrator, after having served as an assistant Polk County engineer before taking over as director of the Iowa Department of Transportation in the late 1990s. Vernon Parish, Louisiana, public schools Superintendent Jackie Self (top center) has announced that after 44 years with the system, he will retire on June 30, when his current contract ends. Laura Crawley (top right), director of the Executive MBA Program in the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University since 2009, has been chosen as the director for the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus and will also be assistant vice president for academic affairs, succeeding Ruth Bettandorff, who retired in September. The Oceanside, California, City Council has appointed Steve Jepsen, current city manager of Yuba City, as its new city manager, effective Nov. 18, and replacing outgoing City Manager Peter Weiss, who resigned in August 2013. The city of Prescott, Arizona, has chosen Division Chief Eric Kriwer as its acting fire chief, replacing Chief Dan Fraijo, who recently resigned, effective Nov. 15. James Cochrane, vice president of the Postal Service's product information department and a 39-year veteran of the service, as its acting chief information officer, replacing former CIO Ellis Burgoyne, who has retired. Kay Schallenkamp (bottom right), president of Black Hills State University in South Dakota for the last seven years and a veteran of four decades in higher education, has announced she is retiring at the end of the school year. Bill Malinen (bottom center), who most recently served as city manager in Roseville, Minnesota, and who has nearly 30 years of experience as a city manager, including stints in White Bear and Roseveill, Minnesota; Lincoln and Avenal in California; and Fife in Washington, has been selected as the new city administrator in Branson. Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance (bottom left), who has served as chancellor since December 2006, has announced he will retire in 2014, and will at that point become chancellor emeritus of the System. Kerry McDuffie, current town administrator in Fremont and a former town administrator in St. Pauls, Tobaccoville and Troy, North Carolina, has signed a contract to become the new city manager in Southport. Aiken resident and former state Sen. Greg Ryberg was recently named the South Carolina Investment Commission's chief operating officer and will head the agency responsible for investing pension money for South Carolina workers. Robert Broscheid, a longtime member of the leadership team and current special assistant to the director at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, has been chosen as the new director of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, replacing Rick Cabled, who resigned, and taking over for Acting Director Steve Yamashito.

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