IIF proposal on regents' agenda

A multi-year bonding plan, which includes the IIF proposal, has been under consideration by the regents since last summer. Also included in the plan is a building at Northern Arizona University and another at Arizona State University.

The IIF is a planned underground facility that would be built under the University of Arizona Mall between the Main Library and Psychology building. It is designed as a technology-rich environment geared toward first-year students.

Several additional studies have been ordered by the board on the bonding plan since August.

One of the studies, the DeMichele Report, which was commissioned by the board, reviewed existing facility utilization.

The committee found that existing facilities could be more effectively used to accommodate the needs of each campus.

It also recommended the board set a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on projects that have conceptual approval.

"As an example, the University of Arizona has spent over $600,000 on the proposed Integrated Instructional Facility; this is a substantial amount of money to walk away from if the facility is not built, and puts additional pressure on the regents to approve the project for construction," the report stated.

Regent Hank Amos said the board had discussed the issue but is not leaning one way or the other. He said he expects a lot of debate at next week's meeting.

The IIF "has some definite merits but there are some deep concerns," he said.

Those concerns include the amount of money that has already been invested and the competing need to renovate the Memorial Student Union.

"That's a lot of money," he said. "I'm sure there is a perfectly good rationale, but I haven't heard it yet."

Amos also said he believes the university is committed to the Student Union project.

"I was on the fence, but now I am leaning toward approval," he said.

If the regents approve the current plan, it will go before the state Joint Committee on Capital Resources and the governor's office.

Phil Case, senior fiscal analyst for the JCCR, said that if the regents forward the proposal, it will be reviewed first as a whole and then each project will be approved or rejected.

The JCCR expects to consider the bonding plan next month, but so far has not studied the individual proposals, such as the IIF, Case said.

However, he said the committee is aware of the amount of money that has already been invested into the IIF and said that factor will play a part in the committee's decision.

"Some members may be troubled by the fact that a project has gotten so far without approval," he said.

However, Case said others may feel compelled to OK the plan rather than see the already-invested money lost.