Master Planning
A 10-year, $188.1 million facilities master plan for West Virginia University’s main campus that aligns with the University’s 2010 plan for building academic excellence was unveiled to WVU’s Board of Governors.
WVU’s last plan, in 1996, focused on new construction including the Student Recreation Center, Life Sciences Building, Downtown Campus Library, One Waterfront Place and Lincoln Hall, in addition to current renovations to academic buildings such as Brooks, Colson and Oglebay halls.
The 1996 plan also includes a Downtown Campus residence hall, slated for completion by August 2008, and renovations to existing housing facilities. Over the past 10 years, some $700 million has been invested in physical plant improvements, officials noted.
The 2006 10-year plan builds on this momentum and addresses enrollment and research growth at the University over the past 10 years and into the future, officials say.
“To attract and graduate high-quality students, the University must have quality affordable housing and recreational facilities as well as group study areas,” said Narvel Weese, vice president for administration and finance. “To recruit and retain high-quality faculty, the University must be able to support state-of-the-art technology, high-tech classrooms and teaching laboratories and research space. In order to accomplish these objectives, WVU’s 2006 10-year master plan must be a dynamic working tool that is used to allocate capital investment dollars wisely.”
Weese said the 2006 plan has been nine months in the making, and focuses on the implementation of “financially realistic” projects within the first five years, with conceptual planning (finances to be determined) for projects further out. All fall into one of these categories: academics, student services, recreation, parking and transportation, and infrastructure.
Principles Guiding the Plan
Weese said the facilities plan has five guiding principles: attract and graduate high-quality students; recruit and retain high-quality faculty committed to the land-grant mission; enhance the educational environment for student learning; promote discovery and exchange of knowledge and ideas; improve the state’s health, economy and quality of life.
It was developed in-house and will be shared with Student Government, administrators, Deans Council, Staff Council, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, City leaders and planners—and now awaits BOG and public input.
A bond issue is anticipated to support the capital plan, he noted, and other funding sources will include reserve accounts, grants and contracts, dedicated fees and private support.
Weese noted that Potomac State and WVU Tech master plans were updated in 2002; future master planning documents will include these division campuses. Health Sciences, Jackson’s Mill and WVU Parkersburg will also be included in the updated plan in 2009.
