Today at the Minnesota Capitol, University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler emphasized the need to renew U of M facilities across the state in outlining the University’s 2018 capital request. The University’s request focuses entirely on maintaining, repairing or renovating existing University facilities. President Kaler also highlighted the University's economic impact in the state of Minnesota—$8.6 billion annually—and underscored the need for facilities renewal in order to keep that impact strong.
“Minnesotans are the beneficiaries of the University of Minnesota’s 167-year-long and strong legacy. For our legacy, our impact and our national and global standing to remain strong, we need modern and useful spaces for research, teaching, learning and outreach,” said President Kaler. “Like Minnesota homeowners, we need to fix our leaky roofs, rewire our aging buildings, modernize our elevators and ensure safety and access for those with disabilities. And like Minnesotans, we’re being fiscally responsible here, demonstrating thoughtful stewardship of past state investment.”
In outlining the University’s request today, President Kaler was joined by Mike Kenyanya, President of the U of M Duluth Student Association, as well as Maggie Perrel, recent graduate of U of M Crookston.
“On behalf of U of M students across the system, I thank the State of Minnesota for its historical and continued support for the U of M. We need that to continue,” said Kenyanya. “U of M students are our state’s future, and we are worth the investment.”
The University of Minnesota’s 2018 capital request includes four priority initiatives totaling $238.5 million in state funding to benefit laboratories, research centers, classrooms and outreach spaces across the state:
Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funding will maximize the effectiveness and extend the life of University facilities across the state. Projects include: (1) health, safety and accessibility; (2) building systems; (3) utility infrastructure; and (4) energy efficiency. The HEAPR request totals $200 million in state funding. The Governor’s recommendation includes an additional $50 million in HEAPR investment.
Greater MN Academic Renewal funding will renovate and renew obsolete classrooms and laboratories in five buildings on the University of Minnesota Crookston, Duluth and Morris campuses. Underutilized spaces will be converted into modern facilities that meet students’ needs. This request includes $10.5 million in state funding and $5.3 million in University investment.
Pillsbury Hall Capital Renewal investment will renovate the obsolete and unused science building on the East Bank of the Twin Cities campus into modern teaching, learning and research spaces to serve more than 6,000 students studying the humanities. The initiative includes $24 million in state funding and $12 million in University investment.
The Glensheen Renewal initiative will use a state investment of $4 million to create a Glensheen Renewal Challenge, which will be a program to match one-for-one donations to preserve the historic Glensheen mansion in Duluth.
- Find out more about the University’s 2018 capital request at government-relations.umn.edu.
- Download high resolution images of the University’s capital request.
- See a financial breakdown of the University’s capital request.
- Download a PDF map of the University’s impact across the state.
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