From the Archives: '$57.1 million 2001-2003 capital budget is the largest in this university’s history'

[ Editor's note: At the end of the decade, Western Today is publishing articles from the past 10 years of FAST, the campus faculty/staff newsletter. This is one of those articles. Publication of FAST officially ended in the summer of 2009. It was replaced by Western Today. ]

This article first appeared in FAST on July 12, 2001

Western received the largest budget in school history when Gov. Gary Locke signed the 2001-2003 capital budget, which included $57.1 million in state funds for the University. The previous record was just under $34 million in the 1995-97 biennium.

The new two-year plan provides Western $32.5 million to construct a communications building, $11.7 million for campus infrastructure development at the south end of campus, and $12.8 million for preservation, renovation and access projects. It also provides $115,000 to develop plans for a new Academic Instructional Center that will become the second major facility in the new south campus quad.

“The governor and the Legislature have provided us with a crucial tool for managing growth while maintaining and enhancing the quality of Western’s programs,” said President Karen W. Morse. “This capital budget continues the confidence that the Legislature has expressed for a number of years in the University’s commitment to high-quality undergraduate and graduate education.

“The Legislature has essentially given us the green light to expand development of the new south campus quad,” Morse added. “This budget represents legislative endorsement of Western’s carefully developed campus master plan for moderate growth which prepares for an incremental enrollment increase of up to 12,500 full-time equivalent students over the next decade.”

For the 2000-2001 academic year, Western had an average of 11,191 FTE students. Enrollment in fall quarter alone, however, reached a record high of 11,694. Already planned or under construction at that end of campus are the Campus Services Facility, slated for completion by summer 2002, which will house public safety offices and the student health center, and a Student Recreation Center, with construction scheduled to begin in spring 2002.