31 October 2017
To: Oregon State University faculty and staff
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
and Mike Green, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dear Oregon State Colleagues:
Like nearly all U.S. public universities, Oregon State University has a significant backlog in needed capital improvements to its buildings and other facilities. This is a serious issue and we are writing to update you on the university’s work to address the backlog in effective and on-going ways.
In addition to implementing more systematic and transparent capital planning through an Infrastructure Working Group established in 2016, the university is employing four strategies to reduce the backlog:
- We are phasing in over the next decade the creation of an annual funding source of $45 million to address building repair and renewal needs on an ongoing basis.
- We are establishing a stewardship fund as part of all new capital projects. This will create a fund that will partially support ongoing maintenance and the replacement of major operating systems within new buildings.
- We are prioritizing renovation of existing university buildings and facilities over new construction, with a particular focus on the renovation of research facilities.
- We will actively continue to pursue state bond funding for capital improvement and renewal projects throughout the university.
By implementing these strategies, OSU will address the accumulation of deferred maintenance and reduce the backlog by $400 million over the next 10 years. Details about the university’s capital improvement needs and strategic solutions are outlined in a set of FAQs and a comprehensive memo.
Information on the university’s 10-year capital forecast and status of various projects is available from the Office of University Facilities Infrastructure and Operations. If you have questions, please contact Anita Nina Azarenko ([email protected]), associate vice president for university facilities infrastructure and operations.
Sincerely,
Ed Feser Mike Green
Provost and Executive Vice President Vice President for Finance and Administration