2008 Woodie Awards
Additional funding needed for on-campus accessibility projects
Chris Curtis
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Campus
02/28/08 - Funding for improvements to on-campus accessibility for students and faculty with physical disabilities has come to a virtual standstill in recent years.
"We desperately need more money to provide greater access and to maintain existing access," said University of Rhode Island Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand.
While tight, funding is not entirely nonexistent. Despite the lack of funds, Weygand said that he does not anticipate any great decline in the university's ability to provide accessibility to persons with disabilities.
"We've been pretty much 'steady as we go' and I anticipate that we will continue to do that," Weygand said. "We have made it a priority and we will continue to do so."
Currently, funding for improvements to campus accessibility comes from four separate sources. General obligation bonds provide general funding for improvements. Some of the funding can make its way to accessibility projects. Bond referendum items are backed by the local government's taxation potential and are voted on by the taxpayers every two years.
Another source of funding for large projects is the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation, a non profit organization that provides bond financing to educational and health care institutions. As these bonds must be repaid, they are used only for projects that generate income.
The university itself sets aside "asset protection funds" of about $4 million a year. These funds are used for various maintenance and repair projects but are not sufficient for the task, said Paul DePace, director of Capital Projects.
"That's a very small amount in comparison to what we should have to maintain a university of this size," said Depace.
The office of Capital Projects is responsible for the implementation of construction and renovation plans, including the modification of facilities for ease of access.
DePace said that $8 million to $12 million would be a more workable budget for asset protection.
"We desperately need more money to provide greater access and to maintain existing access," said University of Rhode Island Vice President of Administration Robert Weygand.
While tight, funding is not entirely nonexistent. Despite the lack of funds, Weygand said that he does not anticipate any great decline in the university's ability to provide accessibility to persons with disabilities.
"We've been pretty much 'steady as we go' and I anticipate that we will continue to do that," Weygand said. "We have made it a priority and we will continue to do so."
Currently, funding for improvements to campus accessibility comes from four separate sources. General obligation bonds provide general funding for improvements. Some of the funding can make its way to accessibility projects. Bond referendum items are backed by the local government's taxation potential and are voted on by the taxpayers every two years.
Another source of funding for large projects is the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation, a non profit organization that provides bond financing to educational and health care institutions. As these bonds must be repaid, they are used only for projects that generate income.
The university itself sets aside "asset protection funds" of about $4 million a year. These funds are used for various maintenance and repair projects but are not sufficient for the task, said Paul DePace, director of Capital Projects.
"That's a very small amount in comparison to what we should have to maintain a university of this size," said Depace.
The office of Capital Projects is responsible for the implementation of construction and renovation plans, including the modification of facilities for ease of access.
DePace said that $8 million to $12 million would be a more workable budget for asset protection.