Good afternoon. Thank you for theopportunity to provide testimony insupport of the Governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Budget. I greatlyappreciate the support SalisburyUniversity (SU) has received from theGeneral Assembly for capital projects thathave been completed during my tenure asPresident, as well as for the Patricia R.Guerrieri Academic Commons currentlyunder construction. While fullyappreciating the fiscal challenges the Stateof Maryland faces, I take this opportunityto also share with you SU’s most pressingcapital needs in the hope that you willsupport those projects as soon as theState’s fiscal condition improves. Asalways, I hope you will continue to regardSU as an exceptional investment in theeducation of Maryland’s citizens to meetworkforce demands.

The Academic CommonsYou can only imagine the excitement

on SU’s campus now that construction ofthis 221,000-square-foot, state-of-the-artsignature facility is underway. As weenter our final year of construction, Iurge the legislature to maintain theGovernor’s full Capital ImprovementProgram (CIP) appropriation for theAcademic Commons so that we cancomplete this project on schedule bysummer 2016. Delay would not onlyincrease costs to the project, but alsowould significantly affect our academicsupport service operations as wetransition to this new facility.

We appreciate the General Assemblyhaving approved, during the lastlegislative session, our request toreallocate $10 million from FY 2016 toFY 2015 to ensure that we have sufficient

funds to keep the project on schedule. Ialso noted in last year’s testimony ourconcern that the Department of Budgetand Management (DBM) had reducedthe overall allocation by $4.45 million,and I am very happy that almost all ofthose funds, $3.3 million, have beenrestored by DBM in this year’s request.In addition, approximately $2.4 millionin private funds have been added to theproject for the purpose of including a 48-bell carillon in the tower.

While I know we are here to discuss

Salisbury University • A Maryland University of National Distinction

Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons

Testimony Presented To

The House Capital Budget Subcommittee

The Senate Capital Budget Subcommittee

By President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D.

March 2015

Construction progress to date

Construction progress to date.

Guerrieri family members join President Janet Dudley-Eshbach at the beam-signing celebration for the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons

capital needs, I need to highlight ourconcern regarding DBM’s recommendedstaff reduction for this facility. We haverequested 32 positions in order to fullystaff this facility; however, DBM has onlyallocated 4.2 FTE positions. Thesepositions will be critical if we are toadequately maintain a building that willbe more than 150,000 square feet largerthan the existing Blackwell Library. Wealso must provide support for extendedhours of operation for around-the-clockstudy space and anticipated heavy use bystudent project teams and faculty groups.Additional librarians, housekeepers andmaintenance staff will be necessary. SUis known for its efficient operations, butwe are very concerned, if DBM’srecommendation holds, that we will haveinsufficient operating funds to hireneeded personnel.

This project has been an economicboon for the Lower Eastern Shore. The Academic Commons is estimated to have a regional economic impact of$238 million dollars and support some350 local jobs. I appreciate the foresightthat members of this committee haveshown in understanding the importantrole of projects like these as we recoverfrom the economic recession. Thank youfor your investment in SU and in theeconomy of the entire Eastern Shore.

Future Campus Capital NeedsAn investment in Salisbury University

arguably provides the State with the“biggest bang for the buck.” TheUniversity continues to enjoy highdemand and has the second highestgraduation rate in the University Systemof Maryland, just behind the Universityof Maryland College Park, whileproducing degrees at the lowest cost inthe State in terms of State-supportrevenue and time-to-degree. Althoughthe Academic Commons will play a vitalrole in providing an optimal learningenvironment for our students, ongoingcapital investments will be critical if weare to continue our success as A MarylandUniversity of National – and increasinglyinternational – Distinction. As President, I

must continually look to the future toother capital priorities. Three of thesethat will appear in future capitalimprovement programs are as follows:

Maggs Physical Activities CenterRenovation (1)

The Maggs Physical Activities Center,built in 1977, serves academic, athleticand campus recreational needs. While wewere able to install air conditioning inour main gym in 2011 as a result of yourgenerous support, with the exception ofa few offices, the building is still not airconditioned. Of greater concern is thefact that its other HVAC systems are atthe end of their life cycle and thebuilding does not comply with currentbuilding codes. Planning funds for thisproject have been requested for FY 2019,but they have not been included in theGovernor’s CIP.

Fine and Performing Arts Complex (2)Other than the Maggs Physical ActivitiesCenter, which can seat approximately2,000 on bench seating in the main gym,the largest gathering space on campus isthe Holloway Hall Auditorium that seats711, grossly inadequate as ourenrollments approach 9,000. OurFacilities Master Plan (FMP) has just beenupdated and is currently awaitingapproval by the Board of Regents. TheFMP outlines the need for a Fine and

Performing Arts Complex consisting of aPerforming Arts Building and an additionfor Fine Arts on the site of two existingresidence halls, Chesapeake Hall and St. Martin Hall. These projects wouldprovide appropriately-sized and moremodern facilities for our student bodyand the larger community, as SU servesas the cultural center for our region.

Dresser Property Purchase (3)The University continues to wait for

environmental concerns to be resolved sowe might acquire this 11-acre formermanufacturing site adjacent to theUniversity’s East Campus. Expected toaccommodate future campus growth, theUniversity will take the steps necessary toacquire this key property.

Thank you again for the opportunityto speak to you today and for yourongoing support of our CIP. These capitalprojects have been, and will continue tobe, essential to the success of SalisburyUniversity as a premier comprehensiveMaryland public university.

Salisbury University • A Maryland University of National Distinction

President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D.

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SU’s projects for the near futurewill need to be funded from a varietyof sources. The Maggs PhysicalActivities Center Renovation hasbeen in the capital projects queue formany years, and we will continue torequest that it be included in theGovernor’s Capital Budget. Similarly,once the environmental concernshave been resolved, the DresserProperty purchase will be a part ofthe CIP. The Fine and PerformingArts Complex is also a priority forthe campus as identified in our newFacilities Master Plan. SU willcontinue to look for donors and otherfund sources to help offset the Statefunds necessary to make that projecta reality.

The Guerrieri University Center(GUC) renovation will be funded

through the use of Auxiliary Bonds.Surge space will be required duringthe GUC and Maggs renovations;once the Academic Commons iscompleted, it may be possible thatBlackwell Library and the NabbCenter in the East Campus Complexcan provide that space with minorrenovations. A thorough evaluation ofthis option has not yet beenperformed, but, if found to befeasible, internal funds can be utilizedto cover those costs. The optimallong-term uses of Blackwell Libraryand the Nabb Center after theAcademic Commons is completehave not yet been determined. OurFacilities Planning Departmentcontinues to evaluate the options.

Salisbury University • A Maryland University of National Distinction

Responses to FY16 Analyst Comments

By President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D.

March 2015

Given that the university has identified several projects to pursuein the near future but that no support is programmed in the CIP,the President should comment on the sources of funding to be usedfor demolition or repurposing of other buildings on campus andwhat the Blackwell Library will be used for in the immediate futureafter the Academic Commons opens.