It makes sense to begin IIF before Union reconstruction

It makes sense to begin IIF before Union reconstruction

Undergraduate education is high on my priorities and, during my presidency, many initiatives have aimed at improvements as we move The University of Arizona towards being a "student centered research university." Among these changes, our faculty and administrators have initiated major reform in the general education curriculum, increased course availability at the lower division level, expanded the proportion of lower division credit hours taught by ranked faculty members, created a center for advising and tutoring first-year students, and expanded student access to computing facilities.
Two proposed construction projects are intended to continue this string of improvements. They are the Integrated Instructional Facility (IIF) to be built under the Mall, and the renovation/rebuilding of the Student Union. Students have been heavily involved in planning both of them in recent years. Some people see the two projects as being in competition. I want to indicate why no competition is involved, and why it would be a mistake to delay the IIF until the Student Union project is complete.
The IIF project is one part of our response to a major piece of unfinished business, the need to improve the overall quality of our teaching facilities. Despite our efforts in recent years, too many classrooms remain antiquated, in poor repair, unsuited to modern teaching techniques, and of a quality that falls far short of what our faculty members and students deserve.
This is why last year, after surveying and prioritizing every existing classroom, we began a five-year, $10 million project to provide seating, acoustical qualities and audio-visual facilities that meet modern standards. The early results can be seen in the Harvill and Physics/Atmospheric Sciences Buildings. This year, we are tackling the Social Sciences, Economics and Music Buildings.
In addition, over the past 18 months, we have been designing a new facility to be dedicated to undergraduate education. The IIF will include state-of-the-art classrooms that permit multi- media and computer-assisted instruction in general education courses; an Information Commons where students will learn how to use computers and faculty-designed instructional software; and a center for helping and advising all freshmen, irrespective of college or major, in a building that is a focal point in their first year of studies. By doing a better job in the first year, the university can help its students to succeed throughout their degree programs.
A below-grade site on the Mall, directly in front of the Main Library, was selected for the IIF because it best met our criteria. It is central, and reasonably near all residence halls and the Student Union. It permits a physical link with the Main Library, and it involves minimal site clearance or relocation costs, such that a maximum share of the budget can be spent on the classrooms.
Given the nature and special significance of the site, and well as the controversial idea of a below-grade structure, I insisted that the campus community be able to actively participate in the design process through focus groups and open meetings; that the design enhance rather than detract from the aesthetic qualities and usefulness of the Mall; that the building achieve a feeling of openness and light; and that all engineering aspects of below-grade structures (such as potential water problems) receive thorough consideration. The design team has adhered to those stipulations, involving faculty, staff and student members on all design advisory committees, and making modifications in response to advice and criticism.
Student views have been solicited at every stage of the process. In a similar manner, students have been involved throughout the initial appraisal and subsequent planning for the Student Union. No campus buildings in living memory have involved more student involvement.
The resulting courtyard design for IIF, while still incomplete, fully realizes my expectations. It proposes a beautiful building that will provide a stunning improvement to our teaching facilities. I urge everyone to see the display in the main library.
It is ironic that some critics have criticized us for "fast tracking" the IIF Building at the same time that others have accused us of dragging our feet in undergraduate education!
The Student Union presents us with a totally different situation because it involves an existing building that is inadequate for our needs and in very poor condition. Even so, we cannot close it down and manage without its services while improvements are made. At one and the same time, we have to renovate and rebuild to modern standards while continuing to provide services at alternative locations.
The Wildcat has expressed concern that the IIF Building would come at the expense of the Student Union project. This is simply not the case. I see the Student Union as being of equal importance but, for a variety of reasons, I also believe that it makes sense to begin the IIF Building first.

Despite involving a below-grade structure, the IIF has been easier to plan because it will serve the single purpose of undergraduate instruction and use an unoccupied site. In contrast, the Student Union already exists, already fulfills numerous functions, and serves far more diverse purposes.
The IIF can be financed in a relatively straightforward manner using academic bonds, though I expect these to be supplemented by a fundraising effort conducted with the help of The University of Arizona Foundation. The Student Union is a more complex enterprise that will require a more complex financial plan. This can be expected to involve some mix of academic bonds, auxiliary revenues and gifts, with the proportions reflecting the way we elect to divide the building between academic and other activities.
The IIF is ready for ground-breaking next Spring whereas, in the case of the Student Union, we do not expect to receive the architect's advice on planning parameters and costs estimates until October. After that, we shall have to complete the plan and arrange financing, and still face several years of phased construction.
Construction of the IIF can go ahead in a simple manner, but the Student Union will require a carefully synchronized series of moves as we progressively relocate functions to temporary locations. Construction and renovation will have to proceed piece by piece because the campus community needs the services of the Student Union continuously. We do not have the option of closing down the whole Union and walking away while the work is done.

The plain facts are that we need both the IIF and an improved Student Union, we need both of them as soon as possible, and the IIF Building can be completed before work is even ready to start on the Student Union.
If we are to appropriately educate students for the 21st century, we must have more advanced classrooms that are capable of accommodating modern teaching techniques. The IIF Building will not solve all our problems in undergraduate education, but it represents a giant step forward. It is a step that can be made without harm and without delay to the Student Union project.

UA President Manuel T. Pacheco