Slippery Rock University has received bond financing from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, which will help fund four projects on campus.
Amir Mohammadi, vice president of finance and administration, said that the bond financing gives the university the money needed to start the construction, which will then be paid off in the years to come.
“We have worked and received approval from the board of governors so all the financing is in place,” Mohammadi said.
The project is currently in the design phase and Mohammadi hopes that construction will happen soon after commencement.
Spotts World Culture Building is one of the buildings undergoing construction. After an inspection, it was discovered that parts of the structure of the building were compromised.
“The paramount concern of the president and the provost and the rest of the senior leadership is always safety and security for our students, faculty and staff,” Mohammadi said. “That was the impetus for Spotts.”
The second project is for Strain Behavioral Science Building. Mohammadi said that there has not been much of an upgrade for Strain since 1938 and this project will address all the backlog updates. The project also includes an addition near the building for students and faculty to manage equipment.
Bailey Library is also covered in the bond and will receive renovations for fire safety needs and to modernize the building itself, creating an atmosphere that is not just for individual studying but also group work.
“We wanted to make an environment that is conducive to meeting 21st century students’ thinking and collaboration. This modernization was really needed,” Mohammadi said.
The fourth and final project will update IT across campus. Mohammadi said that a lot of the technology is outdated, so it will be updated and meeting the latest standards. Mohammadi said that the associate provost for information technology is to thank, saying that he has been proactive and working diligently to make sure the campus is in good hands.
Mohammadi said that there has been great communication and collaboration between the provost office, academic units, finance and administration and the president in order to make sure the projects could get underway.
