Focus on the economy Higher education funding
By Meagan Engle
Staff Writer
OXFORD — Miami University’s Kreger Hall is vacant.
The 80-year-old building is in need of an estimated $17 million renovation before the university can use it for physics and engineering-related classes, said Miami Finance Director David Creamer.
The project was put on hold when Miami, and all other state universities and colleges, did not receive any state money for renovations or new construction in the budget.
Now, Miami will need to coordinate with other institutions of higher education to ensure the East Spring Street building gets the repairs it needs.
“We’re not overstretching ourselves or asking the state to give us any other funds than what we’ve previously requested,” said Facility Planner Randy Stephens. “We think it’s fair and reasonable.”
Gov. John Kasich has asked Ohio’s universities and colleges to work together to reach a consensus on which projects they deem most deserving of the state’s “restrained” capital improvement budget, said Rob Nichols, the governor’s spokesman.
The Ohio State University President Gordon Gee is leading the effort, and a plan must be submitted by mid-February, Nichols said.
“As we continue to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly, the governor wants to encourage collaboration among our institutions of higher education, to have them working together as a university system rather than as individual institutions to ensure that the projects most critical to Ohio are able to be funded in the capital bill,” Nichols said.
Creamer said it’s too early to know the impact on Miami.
“Until we know what the dollar amount will be, and we have a better sense of the projects that will be priorities, it’s too early to tell,” Creamer said.