The Arizona Board of Regents did not discuss the issue of the proposed Integrated Instructional Facility at its meeting yesterday, however, the board gave final approval for other capital improvement projects for Northern Arizona University and the UA.

At its meeting in the Memorial Student Union, the regents approved the three state universities' 1998-2002 capital improvement plans totaling $216.3 million. The IIF had previously received conceptual approval and is among 41 projects totaling $38 millio n the UA has in various approval stages. The regents plan to discuss the controversial project at a future meeting.

The regents did discuss the UA's Agricultural Research Complex, which is to be located at North Campbell Avenue and East Roger Road. The complex received project approval, though Regent Hank Amos said the location would be better for the university if it was sold.

Amos, who works in real estate, said he did not know why the property was being developed.

"If we want to get the highest and best use of the property in the long term, we should look at selling (the property)," Amos said. "(The university) could pocket $3 to $4 million dollars by selling it and buying a cheaper property out by the airport."

Eugene Sander, dean of the College of Agriculture, said the best use of the property was in the eye of the beholder.

"It is in the best interest of our students to have this property near campus," he said.

The project is being funded through $1.8 million in agriculture bonds, $678,000 in gifts and $1.9 million in federal funds. Sander said the college has had the federal funds for three years now and could risk having to pay them back if the project does no t proceed.

Amos said the board could approve the project and still review the property. The sale of bonds still has to be reviewed by the board.

The regents also examined the way the universities use available space on campus.

Student Regent Jonathan Schmitt said the system for analyzing space should include daily, evening and weekend reports.

Currently, only the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. are calculated in the formula, said Mercy Valencia, UA director of space management.

The occupancy rate of classrooms, lecture halls and seminar rooms on the UA campus is 60 percent, Valencia said.

UA President Manuel Pacheco said that while the university could offer more classes at night and on weekends, he doubted students would attend.

"A lot will attend, but many will not," Pacheco said. "We have to try to look at the needs of students and accommodate them."

Amos said the universities need to evaluate the way they uses their space.

"I don't know what the answer is," Amos said. "But I know if we better utilize space, we would have to build fewer buildings."

Amos suggested analyzing the amount of space currently available while considering what students needs are.

Regent Donald Ulrich said the problem with the use of space on campus is that less than 10 percent is classroom space. The rest, he said, is research and office space.

"If I were a lay person, I'd be concerned about what business (the universities) are in," he said. "We have no credibility with people and we need to verify what we are doing here."

Ulrich said that given the increased use of online programs, the universities should look at their future space needs.

The regents then voted to approve a proposal by Ulrich to ask members of the private sector to participate in an independent review of space utilization. Ulrich said the private sector manages space and assets better than the universities.

The board then went on to address debt capacity. According to figures presented to the board, nearly $17 million or 15.6 percent of the UA's tuition and fees revenue for fiscal year 1996 went to debt service.

In other action, the Arizona Board of Regents:

• Approved the state's three universities five-year strategic plans. UA President Manuel Pacheco said the changes made to the UA's report were minor, including editing of text for clarity and updating goals and objectives.

• Approved a two-year, $70,000 contract of new UA Head Baseball Coach Jerry Stitt. The contract includes incentives for athletic performance and larger incentives for academic achievements of the team.

• Approved the UA's pl an to sell 289 acres of undeveloped land it acquired from the federal government in 1961. The land is located west of Tucson near Bopp and Kinney Roads. In August 1995, the property was appraised at $1,365,000. The land will be advertised and sold at auct ion.



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