TEMPE - The Optical Sciences Center became the College of Optical Sciences last week, gaining academic status as part of President Peter Likins' Focused Excellence initiative to cultivate "excellent" programs.

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the move, which will boost the recruitment of top students and increase grant funding for an already strong program with 535 students, 75 teaching and research faculty members and two Nobel laureates. With $12.6 million research grants in 2004, the program ranks sixth among UA departments in research funding and expects a 5 percent increase in external funding as a result of the change.

"Our new name - the College of Optical Sciences - is a reflection of our commitment to provide the world's highest quality graduate and undergraduate education in optical sciences," said James Wyant, dean of the College of Optical Sciences.

Optical sciences at the UA was identified for expansion in 2003 under the Focused Excellence initiative, which called for the program to receive funding from Proposition 301 revenue, now known as Technology and Research Initiative Funding.

Funding sources for the program will not change in the College of Optical Sciences, including state funds, TRIF funds, indirect cost recovery funds, external grants and contracts, and designated funds. The College of Optical Sciences has a yearly budget of $20.26 million, with $3.5 million coming from state funds.

While the number of undergraduates and graduates is expected to remain the same, the number of distance learning students will double because the college will increase the number of courses in the program.

Expansion of the Meinel building, home of optical sciences, will also be completed next year. The "west wing" will add 47,000 square feet of classroom, office and research space.

This fall, the College of Optical Sciences and the Eller College of Management will also offer a joint master's degree in optical sciences and business administration through a three-year program.

Marc Enzor, an optical engineering sophomore, said although the job opportunities are increasing in optical sciences, not enough students are being drawn to the program.

The creation of the college will recruit more students, Enzor said.

"There is much potential to it - optics is the future," Enzor said.

Regents approve final redesign proposal

TEMPE - The regents approved the final university redesign proposal Friday and requested the university presidents initiate implementation plans after nearly a year of planning, public forums and debate.

Unlike Regent Chris Herstam's original proposal in May 2004, which called for a five-university system, the new proposal suggested divergent missions among the three universities with differentiated tuition options and collaboration with the community colleges.

Coming up with a consensus and compromise reduced the boldness of the plan, but the proposal is still strong, said Herstam, who was praised by the regents for his work.

Under the new plan, the UA will continue to grow as a research institution with tougher admissions standards to kick off this fall, while UA South plans to increase enrollment to absorb southern Arizona's increasing student population.

Arizona State University will become "One University in Many Places," as President Michael Crow said he plans to expand the school with four separate campuses: ASU at the Tempe campus, ASU at the downtown Phoenix campus, ASU at the west campus and ASU at the polytechnic campus.

Northern Arizona University will focus on undergraduate education and distance learning throughout the state.

The regents decided to revamp the university system because of Arizona's booming population, with the state universities expected to grow from 115,000 students to 185,000 students by 2020.

But Regent Robert Bulla said before the proposal can take effect, there must be a "serious study" about the economic impact and strategy in order to make appropriate adjustments as the plan goes forward.

Tucson will annex Science and Technology Park

The regents approved a pre-annexation agreement with the City of Tucson Friday, which will allow the city to take more than 573 undeveloped acres from the UA Science and Technology Park at Interstate 10 and South Kino Parkway.

As a result, portions of the park will be used for residences, retail, offices, educational spaces and research.

Bruce Wright, associate vice president of economic development, said the city would offer services such as police, fire, water and sanitation to the annexed portion of the park, and build an entrance into the park.

The agreement is part of the land swap with KB Home, which will give the university 65 acres at South Kino Parkway and East 36th Street, while KB Home gains 124 acres of the park to be used for 600 housing units which will begin construction next spring.

The UA will use the South Kino Parkway property to develop an additional biosciences park, which will include the Arizona Center for Innovation, an organization that promotes high-tech businesses, and the Critical Paths Institute, a cooperation between the UA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and SRI International.

Admin outlines strategic goals for next year

UA administrators are aiming for several goals within the next few years, such as reaching a graduation rate of 58 percent by 2009, promoting student engagement on campus, increasing research contracts to $650 million by 2009 and expanding telemedicine services.

Provost George Davis presented the plans to the regents along with the methods that are being implemented to reach the goals, such as investing in academic advising, the Finish in Four program and refocusing the University School.

The expansion of the UA College of Medicine to Phoenix and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus of the Arizona University System are also "two hubs that can reach out" to the UA.

President Peter Likins said another focus is getting more students employed on campus as opposed to off campus since off-campus jobs are not as flexible for students and may deter them from academics.

Arizona Cotton Growers Association to lease land

The regents approved a 10-year land lease at Maricopa Agricultural center to house a U.S. Department of Agriculture cotton building.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will lease two acres to the Arizona Cotton Growers Association, which will use the property for a classing office facility that would oversee cotton production in Arizona, New Mexico, California and Texas.

The Arizona Cotton Growers Association will manage all construction and operational costs of the facility.

The association will pay a $1 rental fee for the first year and no rental fees for subsequent years.