Campus Crusade

University Construction Most construction at the 11 State University System schools is funded by the utilities and communications services tax. Below is the Board of Governors' master list for construction spending. The Legislature added $110.6 million for the coming fiscal year, subject to approval by Gov. Charlie Crist. The money cannot be used to build stadiums, dormitories, parking garages or student unions.

Creativity eases the cash need -- a bit. The state is pushing universities to offer more classes at night and on Fridays, weekends and especially summers to accommodate more students with existing space. More efficient design, energy savings and environmentally friendly plans also have been urged.

Meanwhile, diversity in revenue streams helps. Dorms, student unions, student health centers, parking garages and -- to a degree -- stadiums come from fees and so don't compete with classrooms for money. UF raised $30 million for its cancer and genetics research building by selling stock in Regeneration Technologies, a company spawned by UF research.

BUILDING BOOM: UF's $39-million nanoscience building is scheduled to be completed by December. [Photo: Jeffrey Camp]

The center already is paying off in recruitment, high-paying jobs and research insights, says director W. Stratford May Jr. Before, researchers were scattered in other buildings and so missed out on chance opportunities to profit from chatting at the vending machine or while borrowing each other's lab gear, says John Wingard, a UF cancer researcher. "It really was a barrier to cross-fertilization," he says. Now, interaction occurs and "suddenly the light bulbs go off."

Barrett, the head of UF health sciences, also sees a light as more research construction gets under way -- "I see light at the end of the tunnel."

Tags: Education, Housing/Construction