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State budget restores Fine Arts Center funds

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas George is pleased with provisions in the version of the state budget approved by a legislative Conference Committee Wednesday, July 25.

"It's really good news for us," George said. "We feel really good about this."

The Conference Committee restored funding for a planned $26.12 million expansion and remodeling of UW-SP's Fine Arts Center, that the Assembly had pegged for a $4.46 million cut. The Conference Committee calls for $25.12 million in state bonds to fund most of the project, with another $1 million in private donations already raised to fund the rest.

"We're on target, which we're very happy about," George said. After the "up and down" ride the project had through the Assembly, university officials were "on pins and needles."

The tentative plan calls for construction to begin in March 2003 at the Fine Arts Center, George said. Design work is still needed. The project expansion and remodeling will allow all Fine Arts programs to be co-located, instead of spread out in other buildings.

"It will be one of the best facilities for fine arts in the state," George said.
The Conference Committee also slated $1.2 million to fund faculty and staff to develop digital science coursework delivered via distance education to nontraditional students. The program is known as the Central Wisconsin Idea.

UW-SP had sought $3 million for the Central Wisconsin Idea, which would have been an increase from its base funding of $2 million, George said. While the program did get cut, it fared better than other economic stimulus packages at other UW institutions.

The Conference Committee budget directs the Board of Regents to establish a watershed center in the College of Natural Resources and allocates $300,000 from the water resources account of the conservation fund to pay for the program.

Another provision in the Conference Committee changes the job description of a wildlife biologist research position at UW-SP to require that person to devote a significant portion of time to bear hunting research and data collection.

"In balance, UW-Stevens Point has made out very well in this budget session," George said.

Both chambers of the state Legislature must approve the Conference Committee's version of the two-year budget. Gov. Scott McCallum said Wednesday the state will have a budget by the end of the week.



	State budget restores Fine Arts Center funds By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Chancellor Thomas George is pleased with provisions in the version of the state budget approved by a legislative Conference Committee Wednesday, July 25. "It's really good news for us," George said. "We feel really good about this." The Conference Committee restored funding for a planned $26.12 million expansion and remodeling of UW-SP's Fine Arts Center, that the Assembly had pegged for a $4.46 million cut. The Conference Committee calls for $25.12 million in state bonds to fund most of the project, with another $1 million in private donations already raised to fund the rest. "We're on target, which we're very happy about," George said. After the "up and down" ride the project had through the Assembly, university officials were "on pins and needles." The tentative plan calls for construction to begin in March 2003 at the Fine Arts Center, George said. Design work is still needed. The project expansion and remodeling will allow all Fine Arts programs to be co-located, instead of spread out in other buildings. "It will be one of the best facilities for fine arts in the state," George said. The Conference Committee also slated $1.2 million to fund faculty and staff to develop digital science coursework delivered via distance education to nontraditional students. The program is known as the Central Wisconsin Idea. UW-SP had sought $3 million for the Central Wisconsin Idea, which would have been an increase from its base funding of $2 million, George said. While the program did get cut, it fared better than other economic stimulus packages at other UW institutions. The Conference Committee budget directs the Board of Regents to establish a watershed center in the College of Natural Resources and allocates $300,000 from the water resources account of the conservation fund to pay for the program. Another provision in the Conference Committee changes the job description of a wildlife biologist research position at UW-SP to require that person to devote a significant portion of time to bear hunting research and data collection. "In balance, UW-Stevens Point has made out very well in this budget session," George said. Both chambers of the state Legislature must approve the Conference Committee's version of the two-year budget. Gov. Scott McCallum said Wednesday the state will have a budget by the end of the week.