TRIF Business Plans Approved by Regents
The Arizona Board of Regents approved business plans for University of Arizona projects supported by the Technology and Research Initiative Fund, known as TRIF.
The two TRIF Strategic Investment projects with ties to the UA are a rural education initiative and a joint solar energy project with Arizona State University.
The UA is receiving $1.06 million over four years from TRIF to support a rural education initiative that will deliver new degree programs in Arizona’s border counties.
Based on initial research conducted by the UA, the answer to providing more high-quality, high-demand educational programs in rural Arizona lies in a hybrid model – one that combines online courses with those taught face-to-face. The funding is allowing the UA to create a model for providing educational opportunities in rural Arizona.
Both the UA and ASU are receiving $3.35 million over four years from TRIF to expand Arizona’s solar energy enterprise – in research, education, outreach and economic development.
The funding has allowed the UA to establish the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy, known as AzRISE, which is a response to the challenge of fully developing solar energy’s potential through research, industry partnerships and policy solutions.
The research goals of AzRISE include identifying, funding and coordinating Arizona-specific solar energy research opportunities, developing intellectual property and promoting development and widespread adoption of solar energy. AzRISE is unique to Arizona as it combines research and outreach in its efforts to promote solar energy.
The TRIF Strategic Investment projects were approved by the Regents in December 2007. The UA and the other state universities were required to provide business plans for each project, which were approved by the Regents at their most recent meeting in Flagstaff, Ariz.
TRIF is a special investment in higher education made possible by the passage of Proposition 301 in November 2000. Proceeds from a six-tenths-of-a-cent increase in state sales tax are apportioned (for 20 years from the passage of Proposition 301) to statewide education at all levels, with 87 percent to K-12, 3 percent to community colleges and 10 percent to the Arizona Board of Regents. Each Arizona university determines how it will invest the allocations it receives from ABOR.
In other business at the Arizona Board of Regents meeting:
The Regents approved the fiscal year 2009 operating budget and state expenditure authority for the three state universities. The budget includes projected revenues, expenditures and year-end balances for each university and the ABOR central office. The total combined budget for the entire Arizona university system is $4.2 billion, which includes the general fund, local funds, grants, tuition and other sources of revenue.
The UA received project approval to proceed with construction of two new residence halls, which will add 1,066 residential units and 350,000 square feet of space. The Sixth Street Residence Halls Project will consist of two new facilities – the first will be located at Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue and the second at Sixth Street and Highland Avenue. The first project is slated for completion in August 2010 and the second in January 2011.
The Regents approved building renewal projects at three UA residence halls. The projects include renovation of plumbing and mechanical systems at Coronado Hall, La Paz Hall and Apache-Santa Cruz Hall, along with replacement of shower stalls and floor finishes in La Paz Hall. Once completed, these renovations will extend the life of the buildings another 50 years.
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